Guidelines call for lighter teacher workload

China has issued a guideline to reduce the workload of primary and middle school teachers so they will have more time to focus on teaching.

Existing supervision, inspection, appraisal, assessment and unnecessary educational activities for primary and middle school teachers should be reduced by at least half, said the guideline, which was issued by the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council.

Redundant activities should be consolidated and unnecessary ones should be canceled, the guideline said.

Authorities at all levels should not assign irrelevant tasks, such as holding celebrations or attracting investment, to primary and middle school teachers, according to the guideline.

The guideline asks relevant authorities to simplify data reporting, prevent repeated reports, improve the management of databases with advanced technologies including artificial intelligence and share data among departments.

Education authorities should improve the quality of training for teachers to improve their professional skills, but irrelevant training should not be allowed, it added.