HONG KONG – Chinese education officials unveiled new guidelines on Friday designed to safeguard student wellbeing by implementing restrictions on excessive homework assignments and protecting student break periods.
The Education Ministry’s new framework prohibits educational institutions from overwhelming students with too many tests or adding to their “academic burden,” according to an official statement released through the ministry’s WeChat platform.
This policy shift reflects government efforts to address mounting academic stress and support student mental health, marking a significant change from China’s long-standing educational philosophy that emphasized rigorous study habits and high academic achievement.
Educational experts note that overwhelming homework assignments have become standard practice in Chinese schools, resulting in sleep deficits and rising rates of anxiety and depression among students.
Previous regulations announced by China last November required schools to “strictly control” homework volumes while ensuring primary and secondary students receive “at least” two hours of daily physical activity during school hours.
The new guidelines also mandate that kindergartens cannot implement elementary school teaching approaches or advance elementary curriculum content.
Additionally, primary and secondary educational institutions are forbidden from conducting entrance examinations for student selection purposes, and schools cannot reward or penalize educators for “hyping up” students who achieve top scores on college entrance examinations.
The ministry emphasized that schools must not “encroach on students break time in anyway, or prohibit students from leaving the classroom during breaks.”
These measures follow China’s recent announcement introducing spring and autumn school holidays to supplement existing summer and winter vacation periods.
The Sichuan Southwest Vocational College of Aviation recently announced through its official WeChat that their six-day spring break from April 1-6 will focus on helping students “see the flowers and enjoy romance,” as government officials explore innovative approaches to encourage future marriages and stimulate domestic spending.
