Ordos' Jungar Banner rolls out 15 years' free education

With the introduction of a tuition-free preschool policy this spring, Jungar Banner in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, has established a comprehensive 15-year free education system - spanning from kindergarten through high school.

The education initiative began in 2013, when Jungar became the first banner in Inner Mongolia to implement 12 years of free education from primary through secondary levels. Now, the benefit has been extended to include preschools: all children aged 3-6 attending public or government-subsidized private kindergartens are eligible to receive an annual subsidy of 3,600 yuan (around $500) that fully covers their tuition fees.

The move reflects a blend of national policy and local innovation. It translates the legislative intent of China's Preschool Education Law - which advocates for the expansion of free education - and the goal of the national "two sessions" to "increase education supply" into concrete local action. The model of government funding with universal access addresses challenges such as high preschool fees and limited school availability.

Ongoing investment in education is reshaping the development foundation of this resource-dependent region. To date, Jungar Banner has established nine autonomous region-level model kindergartens, 17 city-level model kindergartens, and 12 top-tier Class 1A kindergartens. With universal access to affordable, high-quality preschools, over 10,000 children each year are now able to enjoy first-tier education close to home.