GUANGDONG Province is set to include swimming courses in the primary schools’ mandatory physical education programs starting from 2020, a move to further improve the students’ all-around development, The Paper reported yesterday.

According to a plan recently released by the province, primary schools must ensure at least four PE lessons a week for students in the first and second grades. Students from above second grade in primary schools up to third grade in middle schools have to take three PE lessons a week.

In addition, primary and middle schools should guarantee an hour of on-campus physical activities for the students, while encouraging PE assignments after school.

The plan specified swimming courses will be given in primary schools, proposing they take place from the fourth grade. The education authorities at the county level are required to seek support from the local government to ensure each county or district has at least two or three swimming pools for teaching and training.

Moreover, the plan called on schools to teach soccer in PE classes.

With the aim of highlighting physical education’s role in its education system, the province urged high schools and colleges to give more consideration in admissions to students’ PE class attendance, requiring sports and health test scores at not less than 8 percent of the total score. (China Daily)