How preschool education surmount ‘demographic cliff’? A systematic policies analysis of China

Population is both a social and educational issue. Low fertility rates present a common challenge worldwide in the twenty-first century, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, including China, where persistent birth deficits profoundly impact all aspects of society. Despite national and regional variations, many countries have prioritized addressing low fertility and have actively implemented policies to tackle challenges such as slowing population growth and demographic imbalances. Population issues are influenced by various factors, including economic conditions, cultural traditions, and social environments. In industrial societies, as education penetrates the public sphere, the relationship between population and education has become increasingly intertwined. Elements such as the size, quality, structure, mobility, and development of the population are all closely related to education (Peng, 2022 ). Compared to other non-educational population stimulation policies, education minimizes negative knock-on effect (Huang & Tan, 2023 ). Governments have increasingly emphasized education as a crucial path to addressing the demographic crisis and safeguarding the nation’s human capital (Chen, 2023 ).