From the Chinese press

Importance of physical education

Media reports say the new curriculum has provisions for more physical education classes in primary schools. And Minister of Education Yuan Guiren has emphasized that every school should ensure that students get their "daily quota" of physical exercise without any excuse. But the question is whether the new reform will be effective, says an article in Beijing Youth Daily. Excerpts:

A few years ago, the Ministry of Education had proposed similar measures. But only a few primary schools actually put it into practice, and the schools that didn't were not penalized for violating official rules. Therefore, it is more important to ensure that schools implement the existing rules than to issue new ones. It is equally important that local educational authorities punish the schools that violate the existing rules.