The shifting demographics of birth rates are reshaping the education sector, prompting some kindergartens to explore integrated models for childcare and elderly care, while preschool teacher colleges accelerate their transformation into the aging services field.
According to the Ministry of Education's 2025 National Education Development Statistical Bulletin, China had 231,900 kindergartens nationwide with 32.2552 million enrolled children in 2025. This marks a decrease of 21,400 institutions and 3.5847 million children compared to 2024, when there were 253,300 kindergartens and 35.8399 million enrolled children. Facing enrollment challenges, some kindergartens are piloting new models that combine childcare with elderly care, such as a 30-year-old kindergarten in Tianqiao District, Jinan, which was converted into a comprehensive elderly care service center. This facility now provides daytime care and short-term respite services for three surrounding communities, creating a "15-minute" high-quality professional care coverage radius for older residential areas, revitalizing idle social resources and supporting urban renewal.
By the end of 2025, China's population aged 60 and above reached 323.38 million, accounting for 23.0% of the total, while the 65+ population totaled 223.65 million. As the elderly population grows, the silver economy is heating up, with older adults showing increasing demand for spiritual enrichment and lifelong learning. A report by Xingqu Island, titled "Insights into the Psychology of Interest-Based Learning Among the Elderly Generation," reveals that interest-based spending has become a primary consumption category for this group. They are willing to pay for happiness, connection, and the feeling of being needed, creating a new economic model called the "belonging economy."
In April this year, media reports indicated that adult universities, open universities, and elderly care service institutions across the country are intensively posting teacher recruitment ads, seeking instructors in fields like vocal music, calligraphy, dance, health preservation, as well as AI applications, video production, and drone operation.
Several teacher-training colleges, particularly those focused on preschool education, are accelerating their transformation. Many are now targeting the elderly care sector to cultivate talent. In May, the Xuzhou Daily published an article by the Party Theory Learning Center of Xuzhou Preschool Teacher College, titled "Exploring New Paths in Teacher Training Amid Demographic Shifts." The article highlights that elderly care needs are evolving from basic care to spiritual comfort, recreational activities, and psychological care. The core traits of preschool teacher training—patience, empathy, artistic skills, and activity organization—naturally align with the demands of high-quality elderly care, providing a strong foundation for cross-sector integration and transformation.
Xuzhou Preschool Teacher College has focused on the "one small, one old" educational model, integrating preschool education with health service management. The college has diversified its offerings with language culture, AI, international education, and arts sports, broadening its path and enhancing its resilience against industry fluctuations. Similarly, Yancheng Preschool Teacher College has broken down disciplinary barriers by developing a comprehensive "full-age" professional matrix covering 0-3 year-old childcare, 3-6 year-old preschool education, elderly care, family services, and community care. This approach supports integrated, one-stop family care solutions.
On April 17, Loudi Preschool Teacher College signed an agreement with Lianyuan City's Xiangzhong Medical and Elderly Care Center to establish a practical teaching base. The college has launched a Smart Health and Elderly Care Services and Management program, precisely targeting the growing demand for high-quality professionals in the aging services industry.