幼儿园“关停潮”背后，他们如何求生？

Core Insights - The number of kindergartens in China has significantly decreased, with a reduction of 21,100 kindergartens in 2024 compared to 2023, marking the most severe decline in recent years [1][12] - The decline in kindergartens is attributed to a decreasing birth rate, leading to a shrinking student population and directly impacting enrollment [2][12] - The early childhood education sector is undergoing a transformation, with many educators exploring alternative career paths such as live streaming, e-commerce, and transitioning to elder care services [2][5][9] Industry Trends - The early childhood education industry is expected to continue facing deep adjustments over the next three years, with market concentration likely to increase, favoring institutions with differentiated service capabilities [3] - The number of private kindergartens has been on a downward trend since 2020, dropping from 168,000 in 2020 to 135,500 in 2024 [13] - The total number of kindergartens in China is projected to decrease further, with a current total of 253,300 kindergartens and 35.84 million children enrolled, a decrease of 5.09 million from the previous year [12][20] Employment and Workforce Changes - The number of preschool education teachers has also declined, with 283,190 teachers reported in 2024, a drop of over 240,000 from 2023 [18] - Many former educators are transitioning to new roles, reflecting a broader trend of "creative transformations" within the industry [19] Policy and Future Outlook - The Chinese government is focusing on improving early childhood education and elder care services, with plans to enhance infrastructure and service levels by 2025 [10][11] - Experts suggest that the reduction in kindergartens does not equate to a decrease in demand for early childhood education, advocating for smaller, higher-quality educational settings [20][22] - There is a call for better policy support for early childhood education, including the implementation of "small class sizes" and integrated care models to optimize resource allocation [23]