The Ministry of Education will increase the number of kindergartens and teachers as needed over the next few years to avoid potential shortages of preschool resources in the wake of the country's new second-child policy.

"We are keeping in contact with the National Health and Family Planning Commission and will make plans before the rainy day," said Zheng Fuzhi, director of the ministry's Basic Education Department, at a news conference on Tuesday.

According to estimates by authorities, there will be more than 3 million babies born annually under the second-child policy in the next few years. By 2020, the total number of babies born under the policy will reach 17 million.

Many couples worry that increasing numbers will put more strain on an preschool resources.

To ease people's concerns, Zheng said the ministry will build more kindergartens and also provide more financial support to private ones to help lower their costs.

To be effective in meeting the challenge of more children in the system nationwide, Zheng said, the ministry cannot rely on general estimates of how many babies will be born.

zhaoxinying@chinadaily.com.cn