Formal pre-school training set to boom

SHANGHAI - Early-childhood development businesses are becoming a sunrise industry in China as increasing numbers of Chinese parents are considering children's education as the biggest investment of their lives. However, experts say it may not be necessary for every child to attend such classes.

Figures from Answer Market Consulting, a firm that specializes in analyzing the children's market in China, suggested that some 16 percent of children in China aged under 6 are either learning a musical instrument or formally developing some other personal interest.

Some 25 percent of infants aged under 3 were attending training courses in China in 2010. The market demand for early-childhood education will increase 20 percent annually, according to Answer Market Consulting.