China Mandates Two Hours of Daily Exercise for Schoolchildren

New measures aim to combat rising rates of nearsightedness and childhood obesity across the country.

Chinese schools are now required to provide a minimum of two hours of physical activity daily for students in primary and middle schools.
The initiative includes mandatory one-hour sports classes and additional physical activities outside regular lessons.
The government has extended breaks between classes from 10 to 15 minutes to encourage outdoor movement and exposure to natural light.
The policy addresses concerns over increasing childhood health issues, including over a third of students being nearsighted and 10% of children aged 7–18 being overweight or obese.
Schools are instructed to eliminate non-strenuous physical education and offer activities like ball games, jump rope, and winter sports to ensure active participation.