A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE INTEGRATION OF ECEC SYSTEMS IN TAIWAN AND JAPAN: FOCUSING ON THE LEGAL FRAMEWORKS OF “PRESCHOOLS” AND “CENTERS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE”

Abstract

This study compares the legal frameworks governing early childhood education and care (ECEC) system integration in Taiwan and Japan, focusing on Taiwan’s unified Preschools and Japan’s Certified Centers for Early Childhood Education and Care. Using doctrinal legal analysis and comparative policy history, we examine primary statutes including Taiwan’s 2011 ECEC Act and Japan’s 2006 Act on Comprehensive Promotion of Education and Care for Preschool Children and apply a five-dimension comparison matrix encompassing governance, service scope, standards, financing, and central–local coordination. Findings reveal high convergence in curriculum standardization but fundamental divergence in integration models: Taiwan adopted a Full Merger, creating a single legal entity under a centralized ministry, whereas Japan implemented a Collaborative System, preserving dual tracks while adding Certified Children’s Gardens as bridging institutions. These contrasting paths reflect path-dependent legacies of governance traditions and private-sector influence, and embody a core policy trade-off between administrative unification and service flexibility. Recent developments Taiwan’s push for extended care and Japan’s 2023 establishment of the Children and Families Agency suggest both systems are converging toward their respective deficits. Ultimately, this study provides a replicable diagnostic tool to help nations navigate the inescapable tension between administrative efficiency and diverse service needs.