"不只要能上学，还要能上好学" 日前，国务院办公厅发布《关于逐步推行免费学前教育的意见》，提出将逐步免除学前教育保育教育 费。 具体而言，自今年秋季学期起，将免除公办幼儿园学前一年在园儿童保育教育费，而对于在教育部门批 准设立的民办幼儿园就读的适龄儿童，则参照当地同类型公办幼儿园免除水平减免。文件中还提 到，"财政部、教育部将统筹考虑学龄人口变化、财力状况等因素，研究适时完善免费学前教育政策"。 事实上，此前我国不少地区对免费学前教育已有探索。早在10余年前，陕西等多个省份就曾推动"13年 免费教育"，还涌现出神木这样颇具代表性的案例。 不过，此前各地的探索重在"免费"，而如今我们要关注的，已不仅仅是"免费"这么简单。 延长免费教育年限，过去一直是各省份自主探索的内容。 较早的一个"爆发点"出现在2011年。当年，《陕西省人民政府办公厅关于印发省学前一年免费教育实施 方案的通知》对外发布，提出从2011年秋季学期起，陕西全省实施学前一年免费教育，实施范围为全省 所有公办和民办幼儿园。 同年，内蒙古计划在3年内实现高中阶段免费教育，河南新郑等部分县市开始推行12年免费教育，同样 将免费的范围扩大至高中三年。 时 ...

Core Viewpoint - The State Council has issued an opinion to gradually implement free preschool education, starting with the exemption of care and education fees for children in public kindergartens from the upcoming autumn semester, with similar reductions for private kindergartens based on local public kindergarten standards [2][7]. Group 1: Policy Implementation - The new policy aims to alleviate the financial burden on families regarding preschool education, which is crucial for influencing family birth decisions [2][8]. - The initiative is part of a broader trend towards extending free education, with previous explorations in various provinces, including a notable case in Shaanxi that promoted "13 years of free education" over a decade ago [3][6]. Group 2: Historical Context - The first significant move towards free preschool education occurred in 2011 when Shaanxi implemented a free education plan for the preschool year across all public and private kindergartens [3]. - By 2016, more provinces joined the initiative, with Shaanxi again leading the way by proposing comprehensive free education from preschool to high school [6]. Group 3: Demographic and Economic Factors - The current push for free preschool education is influenced by demographic trends, including declining birth rates and an aging population, which have led to a peak in preschool-age children in 2023 [7][8]. - The economic context has also shifted, allowing for increased investment in education, which is necessary to meet the rising demand for quality education [8][9]. Group 4: Quality of Education - The focus is not only on making education free but also on ensuring high-quality education, which requires significant financial investment and improved educational resources [8][14]. - The disparity in educational quality across regions is highlighted, with wealthier areas like Shenmu demonstrating better educational outcomes compared to less affluent regions [11][14]. Group 5: Future Implications - The expansion of free education may lead to increased competition among regions to attract families, as seen in Shenmu, which has experienced population growth due to its educational offerings [12][13]. - The emphasis on high-quality free education will necessitate improvements in teacher training, curriculum design, and educational management systems [15].

作 者丨王峰 《公报》显示，2024年全国共有学前教育在园幼儿3583.99万人，比上年减少508.99万人。 2023年全国在园幼儿比上年减少534.57万人，两年合计减少超过一千万人。 与此同时，全国幼儿园数量也在加速减少。2024年全国共有幼儿园25.33万所，一年时间全国 有2.11万所幼儿园关停，比上年减少7.69%，比2023年5.12%的降幅有所扩大。 在园幼儿人数减少，给了学前教育探索"小班小园"的机会 。教育部数据显示，2022年全国在 园幼儿人数开始下降，平均班额亦有所下降，从2022年的26.32人降至2023年的25.38人。 编 辑丨陈洁 教育部最新发布的数据显示，我国基础教育学龄人口正在发生深刻的变化。 近日，教育部发表《2024年全国教育事业发展统计公报》（下称《公报》），披露各学段学 生、学校数据。根据《公报》，我国幼儿园在园幼儿人数两年合计减少超过一千万人，小学入 学人数或已达峰，入学高峰排浪式涌向初高中阶段。 但是，幼儿园、小学适龄人口的减少，并不必然带来更明亮宽敞的教室、密度更 高的师生比例，相反，2 0 2 4年全国小学、初中的大班额、超大班额数量同比大幅 增加，高中学 ...

Core Insights - The latest data from the Ministry of Education indicates significant changes in the school-age population in China, with a notable decline in preschool and primary school enrollment, while secondary education is experiencing an increase in student numbers [1][13]. Group 1: Changes in School-Age Population - The number of children in kindergartens has decreased by over 10 million in the past two years, with 35.84 million children enrolled in 2024, down by 5.09 million from the previous year [2][4]. - Primary school enrollment is projected to have peaked, with 16.17 million students enrolled in 2024, a decrease of 2.61 million from the previous year [7][10]. - The total number of primary schools has decreased to 136,300, with a reduction of 7,200 schools compared to the previous year [9]. Group 2: Class Size and Resource Allocation - Despite the decrease in student numbers, the number of large classes (over 56 students) in primary and junior high schools has significantly increased, with a 25% rise in such classes in primary schools [10]. - The average class size in kindergartens has decreased from 26.32 to 25.38 students, indicating a shift towards smaller class sizes [4]. - The government is urged to optimize educational resource allocation to meet the demand for quality education, especially in rural areas [1][11]. Group 3: Secondary Education Trends - Enrollment in junior high schools has increased by 941,200 students to 18.49 million in 2024, while high school enrollment has risen by 684,000 to 10.36 million [13][16]. - The ratio of students entering general high schools versus vocational schools has widened, with over 70% of junior high graduates expected to enroll in general high schools [16][17]. - The Ministry of Education plans to build or expand over 1,000 quality general high schools to address the shortage of high school seats [15]. Group 4: Policy and Future Directions - The implementation of the new Preschool Education Law aims to gradually promote free preschool education in qualified areas, which is expected to enhance the accessibility of early childhood education [5]. - Experts suggest that the government should increase funding for early childhood education and adjust class size standards to improve the quality of education [5][12]. - The focus on balancing educational resources and improving the quality of education is essential for addressing the disparities in educational access across different regions [18].