China to prioritise physical education in schools as obesity rates rise

28/1/2025 12:03

China is aiming to beef up physical education in schools, making it core to the curriculum rather than a secondary subject, authorities said as they push for a more "holistic education" amid growing concerns about the rise in childhood obesity.



Primary and secondary schools must ensure physical education teachers are treated "the same as their colleagues in subjects such as Chinese, math and English, and intensify efforts to develop key sports such as soccer, basketball and volleyball," the official Xinhua news agency said, citing the country's Ministry of Education.



"These measures are part of a broader push for a more holistic approach to education, integrating physical fitness with academic development to cultivate well rounded students who are prepared for the future," the Ministry said.



The measures come after China issued its first national plan in January to build a "strong education nation" by 2035. The policies included mandating primary and secondary school students to have at least two hours of physical activity daily, to effectively control myopia, or nearsightedness and obesity rates.