2020-2021 Early Childhood Education Global Research Report for Children Ages 0-3 Released

The first three years of a child’s life is a crucial stage of early childhood development. These days, education methods for children ages 0-3 are constantly changing. In the "Focus on Child Development, Light Up Hope" 2020 International Child Development Summit, the International Early Education Institute (IEEI) and the Maternal and Child Business Institute jointly issued the 2020-2021 Early Childhood Education Global Research Report for Children Ages 0-3, which has attracted widespread attention.

The 2020 International Child Development Summit was hosted by the Council for Professional Recognition (CPR), the Child Development Associate (CDA) Council and ChildWise. The summit aimed to build an international standard for education philosophy, as well as a theoretical education foundation based around childhood development. At its core, the philosophy is meant to empower early childhood educators, focusing on programs that promote children’s healthy development, and building a new system for early childhood education in China.

Policy background

In 2011, the Chinese government promoted the "Chinese Children's Development Program (2011-2020),” which put forward the main goals and strategies for child development in the four areas of child health, education, legal protection and environment. Over the past 10 years, the government has improved legal protection of children’s rights, and increased government responsibilities. The conditions for the survival, protection, and development of children in China have significantly improved. In addition, children’s rights in China have also been further protected.

By 2020, the main goals set in the Children’s Development Program have basically been achieved. Childhood is a critical stage of development, and child development is an important part of the country’s economic and social development. Promoting child development is of great strategic significance for China as a whole.

Hui ZHANG introduces the "2020-2021 Early Childhood Education Global Research Report for Children Ages 0-3"

As a strategic partner of the forum, Hui Zhang, Vice President of the International Early Education Institute, noted that the past two years have been a time of turbulent change in the early child care market. In 2018, the 3-6 early childhood education system changed in terms of policy. After extensive market research, with consideration of future development, a feasibility study report was created based on analysis.

The more than 140-page "2020-2021 Early Childhood Education Global Research Report for Children Ages 0-3" is divided into six parts, namely:

1. The current state of the global early childhood education system for children ages 0-3

2. Overview of China’s early childhood education market for children ages 0-3

3. Status Quo of China's early childhood education market for children ages 0-3

4. Interpretation of China's early childhood education policy

5. Pain points in China's early childhood education market for children ages 0-3

6. The prospects for China's early childhood education market for children ages 0-3

Hui Zhang noted that this report separately examined national education systems (the CDA system in the United States, the EYFS system in the United Kingdom, and the ECEC system in Finland) and private education systems (Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio, Froebel). After detailed analysis, the report found that across early childhood education systems, European and American countries start earlier in the industry. Asian countries learn from advanced education concepts and methods developed in Europe and the United States. The report also shows that early child care is not only an education policy, but also an important part of family policy and social policy.

According to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), in 2018, the number of three-year-old children receiving early childhood education in some countries has been increasing. Most children have received early childhood education before the age of five. From 2005 to 2014, the average enrollment rate for 4-year-old children increased from 73% to 85%.

According to data from the Ministry of Education of China, from 2011 to 2019, the enrollment rate of children ages 0-2 in China has remained at about 4%, while the enrollment rate of children age three has increased year by year, from 32.33% to 56.98%. During the same period, the number of early childhood educators in China has seen steady and continuous growth. As of 2019, the number of early childhood educators reached 2.763 million, twice the number in 2011. With the continuous growth of newborns in China, the demand for teachers in the early-child care industry will continue to increase.

Looking at the formation of early childhood education systems in various countries, long-term research and revisions are needed. With the changes in early childhood education policies, China has undergone initial construction (1978-1985), development and system optimization (1986-1995), and fluctuating period (1996-2000). Since 2001, the government has made the development of preschool education free. Due to the continuous support of the government's policy, the industry has entered a period of steady development, as China's early childhood care industry has a bright future.

"Education will make the country prosperous, and education will make the country strong." Jing Zhao CESARONE, the founder of ChildWise, said that education at the age of 0-6 is essential to a child's life. Providing children with a safe and healthy environment, a scientific and standardized education system, an effective and loving family, and fulfilling the needs of children's physical and mental development will give the foundation for children's lifelong success and happiness. Cesarone is very pleased to see that CDA's scientific and systematic standardized training system will promote the professionalization and standardization of China's early childhood care industry.

Hui Zhang (left), Vice President of International Early Education Institute, and Toya, founder of Maternal and Child Business Research Institute/Qubao.com, signed a strategic cooperation agreement

After the report was released, Hui Zhang, as the representative of ChildWise, signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Toya. Toya expressed her sincerest gratitude to ChildWise for bringing all the concepts and services of CDA to China. Toya was also thankful to ChildWise for bringing new opportunities and services to Chinese families and education workers, as well as other institutions and businesses.

She stated furthermore that the Maternal and Child Business Research Institute is deeply invested in the intersection between maternal care and early childhood education. For this reason, she hopes to expand on her work with ChildWise.

"CDA is American, but we hope that CDA can take root in China," Hui Zhang said, hoping to have more partners like the Maternal and Child Research Institute, so that the development of CDA projects in China will be successful.