Burden of schoolbags

The news about four-day weeks for French primary and junior secondary schools could leave Chinese pupils, if not their teachers and parents, burning with jealousy.

Ten million French children returned to the classroom on Tuesday to find lessons crammed into a four-day week, thanks to a decree by their President Nicolas Sarkozy. They are to be spared the unpopular tradition of Saturday morning classes.

The revolution, which delighted families but drew criticism from experts in France, would appear to us to be the stuff of fiction. Absolutely no way in this country. Pressure on Chinese students to succeed is intense - and even deadly.