Embracing the New Two-Child Policy Era: Challenge and Countermeasures of Early Care and Education in China (China Perspectives)

Crafted from a research project that lasted for three years, this book examines the impacts of China’s universal two-child policy under the lens of education and focuses specifically on early childhood. This book not only provides number projection, but also the prediction and judgment of the supply and demand of service resources in early childhood education. It attempts to reveal the attitudes and views of families and stakeholders on the universal two-child policy and present the public's policy requirements for the quality of early childhood education. In addition, it analyses possible problems and challenges in current kindergarten layouts and resources allocation. Lastly, it aims to provide references and bases for formulating the plan that adapts to changes of Chinese preschoolers, supply guarantee of future early childhood education and the construction of public service system. Offering rich insights into the current and future status of education in China, this text will be of interest to students, scholars, and researchers of sociology, early childhood education, contemporary China studies, East Asian educational practices and policy.

Xiumin Hong, Ph.D., Professor & Director, Institute of Early Childhood Education, Beijing Normal University. Main research areas include early childhood education policy, infant and toddlers’ psychological development and education. Applicants have presided over and undertaken 14 provincial and ministerial projects, published 15 books, and more than 80 papers.

Wenting Zhu, Postdoctoral Researcher, School of Government, Beijing Normal University. Main research areas: early childhood education policy, teacher professional development. And she has published more than 30 papers in journals and authoritative newspapers.

Qun Ma, PhD candidate at the University of Auckland. Her research interests include early childhood education policy and research methods.