The Past, Present and Future of Chinese Early Childhood Education

Abstract

Early childhood education in the People's Republic of China has been inextricably influenced by the changes and progress of politics and economy in Chinese society. As the economic-political scene has undergone a dramatic and tortuous development over the past four decades, the development of China's early childhood education services has experienced a parallel progression. In this article, four stages in the development of a national early childhood model are considered: stages of steady initial advance which involved the post-revolutionary creation of early childhood as a field of service and study, the incorporation of Soviet systems and the creation of personnel preparation programs (1949-57); a stage of unchecked growth, and eventual consolidation (1958-65); the Cultural Revolution, wherein early childhood education experienced serious damage (1966-76); and post-revolutionary restoration and development (1976-present). We illustrate current Chinese early childhood educational goals and its content, including the eightelement comprehensive national curriculum, educational activities, methods, problems, reforms and prospects for the future. We conclude with observations about changes in PRC social/political/economic life which in turn will create a new impact on Chinese early childhood provision.