China to Waive Preschool Fees for Final-Year Kindergarten Students Starting Autumn 2025

Beijing — China will begin waiving care and education fees for children in their final year of kindergarten in public institutions starting from the autumn semester of 2025, as outlined in new guidelines issued by the State Council on Tuesday (Global Times).

The policy aims to benefit around 12 million children nationwide, significantly reducing the financial burden on families by an estimated 20 billion yuan (about $2.8 billion). The fee exemption applies to all eligible children regardless of whether they attend public or private kindergartens, urban or rural (CGTN).

To ensure the smooth rollout of the policy this September, Liu Yuguang, a senior official from the Ministry of Education, confirmed that all necessary preparations, including staff training and awareness campaigns, are progressing on schedule and expected to be completed by the end of August. He also highlighted that the fee waiver will complement existing financial aid programs designed for vulnerable groups such as children from low-income families, orphans, and those with disabilities. "These children have long received support through targeted assistance," Liu said. "This new measure will strengthen that safety net and help guarantee that no child is left behind." (CGTN).

Under the new guidelines, fees waived are based on government-approved standards for public kindergartens. For private kindergartens approved by education authorities, families will pay fees only if the institution charges above the local public kindergarten rate. For example, if a public kindergarten’s monthly fee is set at 500 yuan and a private kindergarten charges 800 yuan, families would pay the extra 300 yuan (China Daily).

The central government will share the cost burden with local authorities, covering 80% of expenses in western regions, 60% in central areas, and 50% in eastern regions. Subsidies may also be provided to kindergartens to offset revenue losses caused by the fee waiver (China Daily).

Officials emphasize that preschool education is a critical part of the national education system and social welfare, supporting the healthy growth of millions of children. The guidelines highlight the need to promote inclusive, safe, and high-quality preschool education (Global Times).

Experts see this move as a milestone in China’s efforts to reduce parenting costs and foster a family-friendly society. Li Jianmin, professor at Nankai University’s Institute of Population and Development, said the policy "fosters a more optimistic outlook" and may encourage childbirth by creating a better environment for families (Global Times).

Overall, this policy strengthens China’s commitment to supporting families and promoting balanced population growth, building on the nationwide childcare subsidy program introduced earlier in 2025 (CGTN). Moving forward, the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Education will carefully monitor enrollment and financial conditions to ensure these free preschool education policies remain effective and responsive to changing needs.