(China Daily)
Updated: 2007-11-06 07:22

The outcome of a health standards test carried out over the weekend in Beijing has underscored concerns about the decline of the physical condition of many young people and highlights the need to improve physical education in schools.

The unprecedented test, which was intended to gauge the physical health of elementary and middle school students in the capital, involved the examination of 1,800 students from schools in both urban and suburban districts, with students from the latter rating highest in all of the different age groups.

Students from suburban areas tended to be healthier than their urban peers, many of whom were afflicted with problems such as obesity and myopia.

The results from Beijing more or less reflect the situation across the country. Previous research indicates that while the physical health of all young people has been declining in recent years, kids in urban areas seem to be more prone to health troubles than those in rural areas.

This worrying situation is the natural consequence of years of ignoring the need to include a strong physical education program in school curricula.

Despite the efforts that have been made in recent years to improve the country's educational system, the exam-oriented learning culture has compelled schools to always attach more importance to students' intellectual development than their physical one. Schools tend to begrudge time, energy and money to be invested in physical education.

As a result, we have to pay a dear price as the young people who are the future of this country suffer worsening physical constitutions.

It is good to see that educational authorities are addressing the problem by implementing specific guidelines on how to improve the physical health of youngsters. For example, schools and universities are required to adopt a new set of standards on the physical health of young people starting this year.

In the long run, much will need to be done to reform our exam-oriented education system to give schools more time and energy to promote physical education, which will not only help build powerful physiques, but also cultivate a spirit of cooperation, friendliness and perseverance among the young.

(China Daily 11/06/2007 page10)