Beijing to add kindergartens in 2018

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‍Beijing announced Thursday it will build new kindergartens or expand existing ones to increase enrollment by 30,000 pre-schoolers this year.

A total of 158 kindergartens will be built, converted or expanded this year to ease the kindergarten shortage in the city, vice mayor Wang Ning said at a meeting of the standing committee of the Beijing municipal people's congress.

The municipal government will also consider measures to encourage government organs, army units, companies and institutions to set up their own kindergartens.

A teacher introducing the history of the Lantern Festival to the children in a kindergarten in Beijing, China on March 2, 2018. /VCG Photo

Financial support will be strengthened. Private kindergartens will be equally subsidized as public ones, if they accept government restrictions on tuition fees, according to Wang.

Government subsidies for each child studying in the kindergartens following the GSP not run by the educational administration will be raised from 3,600 yuan (562 US dollars) each per year to 8,400 yuan (1310 US dollars) or 12,000 yuan (1872 US dollars).

Wang emphasized that preschool education is part of public service for public welfare. The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) is adopted by the municipal government while developing preschool education.

Wang also said kindergartens should have camera surveillance to cover all their public facilities and should designate security supervisors.

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover: File photo of kids making Tangyuan (sweet dumplings) at a kindergarten in Beijing, China on March 2, 2018. /VCG Photo)