China launches new 'healthy schools' initiative focusing on physical, mental health

The Ministry of Education has unveiled a new guideline aimed at transforming schools across the country into "healthy schools", with a strong emphasis on physical activity, mental well-being, and nutritional safety.

The document, released on Friday, seeks to embed the "health first" philosophy into the education system, ensuring that student wellness becomes a core component of the campus environment.

According to the guideline, the initiative will roll out in three phases. By 2027, the establishment of pilot healthy schools is expected to be completed, setting effective models and evaluation standards. By 2030, the "health first" concept should be widely adopted, with significant improvements in health education covering every school. The ultimate goal, set for 2035, is to have universally established high-quality healthy schools.

All primary and secondary students will be required to engage in at least two hours of comprehensive physical activity daily. Schools are also required to introduce 15-minute breaks.

Beyond physical health, the guideline places a strong emphasis on mental health. A national monitoring and early warning system for student psychological issues will be established.

To combat rising myopia rates, prevention efforts will be intensified, particularly in kindergartens and primary schools, with a focus on protecting children's "far vision reserve" and ensuring ample outdoor time.

Regarding weight management, a specific action plan will target obesity through balanced school meals, home-school collaboration, and the integration of "exercise prescriptions" with dietary guidance.

Food safety is another critical pillar. Schools must strictly enforce management regulations, implement systems where officials share meals with students to ensure quality, and establish parental committees to oversee campus dining.

The guideline also mandates the installation of automated external defibrillators and the integration of life safety education, including first aid and emergency drills, into the curriculum.

Sun Mingchun, director of the Department of Physical, Health and Arts Education at the Ministry of Education, said efforts will be made to ensure that the "health first" philosophy reaches every school and promotes the early establishment of healthy schools among all institutions. The effectiveness of healthy school construction will be incorporated into education supervision and serve as a reference factor in school evaluations and assessments, he said.

Ma Jun, professor at the School of Public Health at Peking University, said the core of the guideline lies in shifting schools from a score-first to a health-first approach. Building healthy schools is not only crucial for the holistic development of individual students but also vital for the future of the nation and its people, he said.