After-school art classes could ease academic pressure

Freeing elementary students from their overwhelming academic burden has become a widely discussed issue during the two sessions underway in Beijing.

One political adviser has proposed to use this as an opportunity to improve basic levels of understanding about Chinese fine art at schools throughout the country.

Xu Jiang, a member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, says this could be a way of enhancing cultural self-confidence among children.