Yesterday, Haidian District unveiled a three-year action plan for physical education in primary and secondary schools, outlining plans for sports facility development, curriculum systems, and teacher training across all schools over the next three years. The plan proposes establishing 70 campus football experimental schools within three years and piloting winter sports curriculum in 10 schools in preparation for the Winter Olympics.
Winter sports to cover all primary and secondary schools in the district
The "Implementation Opinions on Promoting Winter Sports in Haidian District Primary and Secondary Schools," also released yesterday, states that the district will create "Winter Olympics Education Demonstration Schools." Through a model of piloting first and then expanding, the goal is to achieve widespread winter sports participation across all schools. Additionally, the "Haidian District Primary and Secondary Schools Winter Sports Reader" will be compiled to explore basic approaches and teaching methods for conducting winter sports.
According to Zhang Yanxiang, Deputy Director of the Haidian District Education Commission, 10 schools with a certain foundation in winter sports have been selected as the first batch of demonstration schools. For example, Baijiatuan Primary School, the First Branch of No. 11 School, and Tsinghua University High School Shangdi Campus will offer skiing courses; the Experimental School Affiliated to No. 20 High School and Zhongguancun No. 3 Primary School will offer hockey courses; and Dongbeiwang Central Primary School has introduced a mobile ice rink for all students to experience. The first Haidian District Primary and Secondary Schools Hockey League is planned for next year.
Zhang Yanxiang noted that there are various ways to promote winter sports. On one hand, the role of existing venues can be maximized by purchasing social services to take students to nearby ski resorts and ice rinks for learning, experiencing, and training. On the other hand, schools without suitable facilities can use alternative methods for winter sports instruction—such as using roller skates instead of ice skates or skateboards instead of snowboards—to help students understand the rules and techniques of the sports, with regular visits to ice and snow venues for practical experience and exercise.
All schools to offer football courses
In line with the requirements of the action plan, Haidian District aims to develop a “pyramid-style” model for campus football. The goal is to have 40 primary schools and 30 secondary schools become “campus football experimental schools” within three years. By improving relevant enrollment policies, a “through train” development approach will be formed to ensure that outstanding football players from each level of “campus football experimental school” can advance to higher-level schools. Collaboration with universities will also be strengthened to create opportunities for outstanding student athletes to gain admission to higher education.
In addition, to strengthen football teaching in schools, the plan requires all schools to offer football-related courses: no fewer than 18 class hours per semester in primary schools, no fewer than 18 class hours per academic year in junior high schools, and at least 18 class hours of elective football courses during high school. At the same time, a training system for campus football teachers, coaches, and referees will be established, with the goal of ensuring that within three years, “each experimental school has one highly skilled football coach, and each school has at least one highly qualified full-time or part-time football teacher.”
Physical fitness tests to begin district-wide next year
Starting next year, Haidian District will hold a test based on the National Student Physical Health Standards and establish a “Haidian District School Physical Health Standards Test Leaderboard.” It is reported that this test will cover all schools in the district. Unlike previous municipal-level random tests, Haidian’s tests will be conducted by class. “Previously, when we randomly tested 20 students, if they happened to all be less fit, the results might not reflect the true picture. But by testing whole classes and excluding extreme outliers, we can more accurately assess whether the school’s physical education and extracurricular exercise programs are effective.” Based on the test results, Haidian District will recognize “High-Quality Schools for Student Physical Health” and announce “Low-Ranked Schools for Student Physical Health.”
However, testing is not the ultimate goal. In the future, Haidian District will analyze the main issues and shortcomings in student physical health based on test results and launch a “Student Physical Health Deficit Elimination Project.” A “Haidian District National Student Physical Health Standards Monitoring Center and Student Physical Health Information Release Platform” will be established. The district will explore having the monitoring center conduct physical health standard tests for all students through government-purchased third-party services. Test data will be statistically analyzed each academic year, and the data will be used to guide the future design and adjustment of school physical education curricula.