A girl reads a book with her mother in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2019. An early childhood education center held a picture book reading event to promote parent-child reading in Beijing(XINHUA)
The early years of education have been increasingly gaining attention among Chinese parents for their importance in forming a child's behavior and attitude and habit of learning. According to www.qcc.com, a website providing corporate information, the number of registered early childhood education companies had reached 37,000 in May, resulting in a 300-billion-yuan ($44.18 billion) market.
This indicates the unprecedented emphasis given to early childhood education by parents today. A scientific early education is beneficial for children's brain development. However, China's early childhood education presents a stark picture. The lack of teachers well-versed in the scientific education theory is a common problem in such institutions, affecting children's long-term growth.
For instance, some organizations make preschool children recite the ratio between a circle's circumference and diameter, to develop their memory and concentration, though it is a challenging math concept for preschoolers. It cannot foster an interest in their studies, which is an essential target of childhood education.
Therefore, there should be a comprehensive regulation to ensure a minimum level for entering the industry. There should also be a common evaluation mechanism and standards to manage the industry and protect consumers. It is necessary to improve the personnel training system and ensure the agencies offer better services to the market.
This is an edited excerpt of an article originally published in www.gmw.cn on November 27
(Print Edition Title: Early Childhood Education)
