大班免保教费 能省多少？专家提醒：需防范财政补贴拖欠风险

Core Viewpoint - The Chinese government has introduced a policy to gradually implement free preschool education, which is expected to benefit approximately 12 million children in the upcoming autumn semester, with an estimated increase in national fiscal expenditure of about 20 billion yuan for this semester [1][2]. Policy Implementation - The free preschool education fee policy will cover all kindergarten children in their final year, including both public and private kindergartens, as well as urban and rural institutions, ensuring equitable access to the benefits [2]. - The funding for the policy will be shared between central and local governments, with a significant portion provided by the central government, particularly favoring central and western regions [2]. - The Ministry of Finance has allocated the necessary funds for the policy and is working on detailed implementation plans to ensure timely disbursement and effective monitoring of the funds [2][3]. Current Progress - In Beijing, some kindergarten directors have reported receiving information about the fee exemption but have not yet received formal implementation guidelines from higher authorities [3]. - The proportion of public kindergartens in Beijing has exceeded 60%, while private kindergartens account for about 27%, indicating a diverse landscape of preschool education institutions [3]. Population and Policy Context - The new policy is part of a broader strategy to adapt to demographic changes, with various measures aimed at reducing the costs of child-rearing and education [5]. - The number of children entering kindergartens has significantly decreased, with a drop from 17.65 million in 2017 to 10.62 million in 2021, reflecting a one-third reduction in the population base over five years [5]. Financial Considerations - Concerns have been raised regarding the financial capacity of local governments to sustain the subsidy program, particularly for private kindergartens, which may face challenges if local funding is insufficient [5][6]. - The proportion of children in private kindergartens has only decreased by less than 4 percentage points from 2020 to 2024, indicating that private institutions still maintain a significant presence despite demographic shifts [6]. Market Dynamics - The implementation of the free education policy is not expected to have a significant immediate impact on the operations of private kindergartens, as the financial differences are relatively small and parents prioritize educational quality [8]. - The government has been promoting public kindergartens, aiming for them to account for over 50% of enrollment, which may influence the competitive landscape for private institutions [8].