HONG KONG, Jan 28 – China is reshaping its education system to prioritize physical education as a core component of the curriculum, the Ministry of Education announced. The initiative, part of a broader push for “holistic education,” comes amid growing concerns over rising childhood obesity rates and sedentary lifestyles.
Primary and secondary schools across the country are now required to treat physical education teachers on par with their counterparts in core academic subjects such as Chinese, math, and English. Efforts will also be intensified to promote popular team sports like soccer, basketball, and volleyball, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
“These measures aim to foster a more holistic approach to education, combining physical fitness with academic achievement to prepare well-rounded students for the future,” the Ministry of Education stated.
National Plan Targets Fitness and Obesity
The policy follows China’s first national plan, unveiled in January, to transform the country into a “strong education nation” by 2035. The plan mandates at least two hours of physical activity per day for primary and secondary school students. This effort is part of a strategy to address issues such as myopia and childhood obesity.
China’s focus on physical education also seeks to close resource gaps in rural areas. A mid-2022 survey revealed a national shortage of approximately 120,000 physical education teachers, with rural regions particularly underserved. To address this, the Ministry of Education has proposed recruiting retired athletes and military veterans to bolster the workforce.
In addition to equal pay, physical education teachers will now receive performance-based salary adjustments for extracurricular sports duties and team coaching.
Childhood Obesity on the Rise
Childhood obesity in China has surged since 2019, fueled by reduced physical activity during COVID-19 lockdowns and the increasing popularity of online junk food deliveries.
In 2022, the proportion of obese boys in China climbed to 15.2%, up from just 1.3% in 1990. While this remains lower than the United States’ 22%, it surpasses other countries like Japan (6%), Britain and Canada (12%), and India (4%). Among girls, the obesity rate increased from 0.6% in 1990 to 7.7% in 2022.
Experts predict that obesity rates will continue to rise over the next decade, exacerbated by structural economic shifts that promote poor eating habits and reduced physical activity.
China’s new education measures signal a strong commitment to reversing these trends, fostering healthier lifestyles, and integrating fitness as a foundational pillar of youth development.