Challenge of finding kindergartens expected to ease in three years

　　By Annie Wei

　　With more and more people moving into Beijing, it is getting harder for both Chinese and expat parents to find good schools for their children. Private kindergartens are a particular challenge: the waiting list is a mile long and tuition fees can be debilitating.

　　According to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Education, 460,000 Chinese and foreign children were born in the city in the past three years, and 51 percent of the parents were not from Beijing.

　　The commission said it plans to build in the next three years 120 new public kindergartens, which are expected to enroll 36,000 children. The plan covers both the city center and the suburbs. To ensure the quality of teaching, many of the schools will be put under the supervision of top-grade schools.

　　However, different parents have different priorities – especially those who come from two cultures. Li Jingya, 26, a ashion designer married to a British national and mother of two, said her primary concern is teaching quality.

　　Her 3-year-old son Harry Miller goes to Ivy Bilingual School, which costs 18,000 yuan for six months’ half-day classes. “Harry’s Chinese is better than his English right now, which is an important reason my husband prefers a school with good teachers that sk British English,” Li said. “It’s also good that the school provides detailed information online,” she said, adding that the school has activities like a moly trip to a farm so Harry can enjoy and appreciate nature.