Parents line up outside a kindergarten at night to apply for the entrance quota for their childrenRecently, Chinese media quote an article from a China-visiting Japanese author, telling about his opinions of the pre-school education in China.
The article says Chinese find it very difficult to apply for the entrance to the kindergarten for their children. They can only get quotas in a kindergarten for their children after they wait for one or two years, which means that Chinese parents must apply just after their children are born. Besides, in big cities like Beijing, monthly kindergarten fee is expensive but has no limits, at least 1,000 Yuan with additional sponsorship fee of at least 10,000 Yuan.
The author thinks there is a big gap between scarce resources of pre-school education and the need.
Meanwhile, the author points out that the quality of pre school education in China is worrying.
Children learn caligraphy in a kindergarten Children learn mathematics in a kindergartenAn English course in a kindergartenIn the kindergarten, children learn knowledge to be taught in the preliminary school; in the preliminary school, pupils learn knowledge to be taught in the middle school; in the middle school, pupils learn knowledge to be taught in the university; in the university, however, students learn knowledge taught in the kindergarten: how to be polite, honest and trustworthy.
In the article, he says some bosses from Japanese companies express their confusion: Chinese young staff are capable of learning and have keen understanding; however, they lack politeness and honesty, and they don't know how to treat their superiors and clients.
The author points out the problems that Chinese young people have result from their behaviors and habits. And behaviors and habits can be only formed in the phase of pre-school education. However, there is no big difference between the pre-school education and the basic education. Teachers and parents hurry to instill knowledge in children: calligraphy, foreign languages, mathematics…They are eager for quick success.
By contrast, in Japan, the most important things children learn in the kindergarten are how to get along with their mates, how to treat the elders politely and how to solve problems themselves.
The author points out that the pre-school education determines China's future. On the one hand, the number of kindergartens should be increased; on the other hand, quality of pre-school education should be improved.
Do you agree with the author? Does the pre-school education determine China's future? 
