by Sportswriter He Leijing

NANJING, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- Inspired by the dazzling performance of swimming sensation Pan Zhanle at the Paris Olympics, 10-year-old Li Hao from Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, spent his summer vacation splashing through pools, eagerly anticipating the new school year, where he hopes to swim faster under the guidance of his teachers.

As the summer, punctuated by Olympic dreams, fades into memory, students across China are returning to their classrooms on September 1. Many are jumping at a back-to-school gift, which is not a shiny new gadget or a latest toy, but one that literally has them jump with excitement. It is a promise of more engaging and diverse physical activities.

"Our school offers swimming classes, and I'm determined to learn well. I dream of competing outside school one day," said Li, a fifth-grade sports enthusiast at Wuxi Anzhen Primary School, who is eager to excel in his school's daily physical education (PE) classes.

MORE FOCUS ON SCHOOL SPORTS

Recently, Jiangsu implemented a policy mandating one PE class per day in primary schools starting this fall, explicitly prohibiting other subjects or activities from encroaching on PE time. This move has been well received among students and parents alike, reflecting a growing recognition in a traditionally exam-oriented society that physical education is essential to a well-rounded education.

At Wuxi Rongcheng Guanshun Experimental Primary School, the new semester launched a daily 100-minute exercise regime. "40 minutes are dedicated to PE classes, 30 minutes to morning exercises, 20 minutes to extracurricular activities, and the remaining 10 minutes encourage students to step outside the classroom and stretch their legs in the hallways," explained Hu Yanni, the school's vice principal.

Hu highlighted that the school offers a variety of engaging sports programs, including joyful gymnastics, creative break-time exercises, roller skating, and table tennis. These are taught employing a layered approach and gamified competitions to ensure effective and enjoyable learning.

In Beijing, the fall semester marks the introduction of optimized break schedules in primary and secondary schools, ensuring a mandatory 15-minute recess for students to leave their desks, explore outdoor sports equipment, and enjoy some light exercise.

Primary schools in Shanghai have also been required to offer five PE classes per week, allowing students to get at least two hours of exercise both inside and outside of school every day.

In Hunan Province, local government has issued a guideline to encourage students to master at least two sports skills. It also advocates for schools to establish football, basketball, and volleyball class-level teams, regularly organize competitions and promote inter-school friendly matches. The province will also increase the weight of PE scores in high school entrance exams, targeting a rise to over 8 percent by 2027.

In addition to more time, students are also finding more joy in sports. Led by PE teacher Wang Ping, dozens of students at Nanjing No. 13 Middle School are seen exercising in a lively dance to a rhythmic tune on the outdoor playground.

"The movements are simple, but the exercise intensity is spot on. Students are eager to learn and pick it up quickly, creating a fantastic exercise atmosphere," said Wang, who creates the exercise that blends elements of modern dance and traditional Chinese game of jianzi, a shuttlecock kicking sport.

At Haimen No. 1 Middle School in Jiangsu's Nantong city, nearly 2,500 students engage in a synchronized exercise that mimics the classic mobile game Snake. They run in intricate formations on the playground, creating a visual spectacle that resembles a slithering snake when viewed from above.

Chen Jianming, the PE teacher who choreographed the exercise, said that the formations were designed to allow over 2,000 students to exercise simultaneously on a small playground while adding an element of fun to their daily routine.

"I hope to make exercise more interesting," added Chen. "This routine not only strengthens their bodies but also fosters a strong sense of teamwork."

BETTER GROWTH FOR CHILDREN

In Hunan's new guidelines for promoting school sports, there is a clear target: by 2027, the rate of students with good or excellent physical fitness should exceed 55 percent, while the prevalence of myopia among children and adolescents should decline annually.

This emphasis on student physical fitness is a crucial aspect of China's educational reforms over the past years. A 2021 survey revealed that 10.4 percent of children under 6 and 19.0 percent of teenagers aged 6-17 in China are overweight or obese - meaning nearly one in five students is battling excess weight.

China's 14th Five-Year Plan and its Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 explicitly call for the implementation of a nutrition improvement program for preschoolers, effective control of childhood obesity and myopia, and the guarantee of school PE classes and extracurricular exercise time.

Wu Shasha, a PE teacher at Nanjing Tianzheng Primary School, has observed noticeable changes in her students' physiques. "As the national focus on PE classes has intensified in recent years, students are more enthusiastic about exercise. Obesity and poor posture have shown significant improvement, and the rate of excellent results in student fitness tests has steadily risen."

"Delivering quality PE classes not only brings more smiles to children's faces but also helps them focus better in academic lessons," said Hu Yanni. "The teamwork, resilience, and other life skills they develop through sports are crucial for their overall healthy growth."

Wang Zongping, a professor from Nanjing University of Science and Technology, said that schools are now introducing more emerging sports like rock climbing and skateboarding alongside traditional activities.

Wang added that the new trend not only cultivates students' interest in sports but also helps these niche sports activities take root in the Chinese market. "School sports are not just about physical exercise. They are also a means of discovering talents and cultivate potential, which is why a certain level of intensity is necessary."

At Royal Grammar School (Guildford) Nanjing, sports are regarded as a central idea to its educational programs. The school boasts an 8,000-square-meter indoor sports center, along with outdoor facilities including a swimming pool and tennis courts. With over 20 sports courses available, including tennis, equestrian and fencing, students are free to choose their preferred activities.

Fencing coach Jin Hao at this school noted that sports benefit students in various ways. "Fencing, for instance, benefits their physical fitness, flexibility, coordination, and reaction time."

"We have also tailored different courses to match the ages of our students, helping them develop their physical abilities while also uncovering their athletic potential," he added. Enditem

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