Eight counties and cities from Shanxi province have been listed in the first batch of "Cities, Districts, and Counties Benefiting from National Universal Preschool Education for 2025" announced by the Ministry of Education.

The recognized areas in Shanxi are Youyu, Heshun, Shouyang, Pingshun, Linyi, Wanrong, and Ruicheng counties, as well as Yongji county-level city.

A total of 427 cities, districts, and counties have been included in the national preschool education program. Notably, all municipalities of Tianjin and Shanghai have met the national evaluation criteria, along with 16 other cities, including Wuxi and Zhenjiang in Jiangsu province.

The Ministry of Education emphasizes the need for the recognized regions to integrate preschool education reform and development into their "15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30)" initiatives, with a focus on providing preschool education that meets public expectations.

Efforts should be made to establish a robust preschool education benefits system, ensure the effective implementation of the one-year free preschool education policy, and continuously improve the quality of care and education provided.