A comparative study of early childhood policy: Building the early childhood teacher workforce in China and Australia

Abstract

In recent years, both the Chinese and Australian governments have recognised the importance of building a stable and high-quality early childhood teacher workforce to improve the quality of early childhood education and care. Both countries have issued policy documents on the reform and development of preschool teachers and associated staff. Through a comparison of the main policy documents of the two countries, the contents and the implementation of the policies of Australia and China the early childhood teacher workforce is explored. In Australia accelerating early childhood education legislation has been a priority of reform. The establishment of a national early childhood education supervision and coordination institution (Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority) has provided an instrument for this reform. In this chapter there is reflection on similarities and differences in the implementation of early childhood teacher education policies in Australia and China. The chapter concludes by discussing similarities in approach and also lessons to be learnt from each country’s experience.