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    Early childhood education and care in China: history, current trends and challenges

    Qi, Xiaofei and Melhuish, Edward C. (2017) Early childhood education and care in China: history, current trends and challenges. Early Years 37 (3), pp. 268-284. ISSN 0957-5146.

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    Abstract

    This paper reviews the development of early childhood education and care (ECEC) in China. The historical context from 1900 is summarised, and then developments from the 1980s up to the present kindergarten expansion movement, starting in 2010, are covered in detail. The review shows that ECEC development in China has undergone great changes both in policy and practice. The clash between progressive ideas and existing kindergarten practices has been and remains a challenge. The ‘cultural appropriateness issue’ is of concern, and there are strong voices for keeping valuable aspects of Chinese traditional culture. China has put great efforts recently into boosting kindergarten participation nationwide, yet there have been and remain great social economic disparities at various levels. There is also growing concern that the programme quality cannot be maintained with the rapid kindergarten expansion process. Policy development for the childcare sector (0-3) in China is relatively thin compared to recent booms for kindergartens.

    Metadata

    Item Type: Article
    Additional Information: This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis, available online at the link above.
    Keyword(s) / Subject(s): Early childhood education and care, policy and practice, China, challenge
    School: Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science > School of Psychological Sciences
    Research Centres and Institutes: Children, Families and Social Issues, Institute for the Study of (Closed)
    Depositing User: Administrator
    Date Deposited: 02 Dec 2016 08:16
    Last Modified: 02 Aug 2023 17:29
    URI: https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/17561

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