Myopia rate of students rises 11.7 percent in H1: ministry

BEIJING -- The rate of myopia among Chinese primary and middle school students increased by 11.7 percent in the first six months of the year (H1), said China's Ministry of Education on Thursday, citing data from a survey conducted in June.

The myopia rate of primary school students jumped by 15.2 percent in H1, showed the data.

The ministry conducted the survey among students in nine provincial-level regions during the epidemic, and the results were "not optimistic," said Wang Dengfeng, an official from the epidemic response office of the ministry, at a press conference.

To tackle the growing problem, the ministry will strictly regulate the daily exposure to online learning -- no more than two hours in primary school, three hours in junior high school and four hours in senior high school, said Wang.

"It is also necessary to strengthen physical education," Wang said, adding that students should have at least one hour of outdoor activities and physical exercise every day after class.