Preschool Teacher Development in China: Insights from Japan and South Korea’s Responses to Population Aging

Abstract

With the declining birth rate and the exacerbation of aging in China, the construction of preschool education teacher programs faces unprecedented challenges. To address these challenges, it is imperative to draw insights from the successful experiences and lessons of Japan and South Korea. Both countries have adopted different strategies in response to their population crises, particularly in the realm of preschool education teacher development. By conducting a comparative analysis of these strategies, the commonalities and differences can be identified. An urgent task is to improve the provision of nursery services for children under three years old, enhance incentives for childbirth, and establish an early warning mechanism for population trends to optimize the allocation of educational resources. Additionally, efforts should focus on enhancing the quality of teachers and expanding employment opportunities to mitigate the impact of the population crisis on the high-quality and balanced development of preschool education teachers.