2021-09-01-亚开行-中国的幼儿发展与减贫（英）_26页_672kb

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has achieved significant poverty reduction, with a focus on improving human capital quality in its recent national plans. Investing in early childhood development (ECD) yields high returns, leading to better education, health, and economic outcomes. Since 2010, the government has increased investment in preschool education for children aged 3–6 years, but ECD for ages 0–3 remains underdeveloped.

Key challenges include the impact of rural-to-urban migration, resulting in a large number of "left-behind" children in rural areas. These children face developmental delays due to inadequate nutrition, healthcare, caregiving, and lack of access to quality services. Poor rural caregivers often lack knowledge and resources, leading to issues like malnutrition and cognitive delays.

Historically, ECD in China shifted from employer-provided childcare in the pre-1990s to a focus on private and public kindergartens in the 2000s. Since 2010, policies have reintroduced ECD for ages 0–3, with increased public investment.

International research shows that ECD interventions, such as home visit programs and early learning initiatives, have high returns and long-term benefits. Programs like the U.S. Head Start model emphasize parental involvement and comprehensive services to improve child development outcomes.

The authors recommend increasing investment in ECD, particularly in rural areas, to promote equity. Policies should include caregiver support, flexible service delivery, and home-based interventions to reach vulnerable populations. ECD should be integrated into broader strategies for poverty reduction and human capital development.