LAWMAKERS are mulling over a draft law banning parents from placing an excessive academic burden on their children.

The draft law on family education promotion was submitted yesterday to the ongoing session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee for its third reading.

The draft stipulates that parents or other guardians of minors should appropriately organize childrens’ time for study, rest, recreation and physical exercise.

Parents should also play their part in preventing their children from being addicted to the internet, the draft added.

Pinning high hopes on their children, a large number of Chinese parents would bend over backward to help their kids succeed. They are willing to fork out 200 yuan (US$31) or more for a 45-minute tutoring class to help the children get high test scores.

Many students are burdened with heavy workloads and deprived of sleep, and the incidence of myopia and substandard fitness among them has increased, a problem that worries many.

In response to growing concerns regarding children’s growth, China has initiated an education overhaul across the country.

A set of guidelines issued in July called on schools to recalibrate homework assignments, improve their classroom teaching and develop after-class services to meet students’ individualized demands.

At the same time, the document strengthened regulations regarding off-campus institutions, stopping approving new off-campus, curriculum subject-tutoring institutions for students receiving compulsory education.

“The draft clarifies that parents should properly arrange time for studies, rest, entertainment and physical exercises for minors to avoid additional academic pressure and to prevent internet addiction. Governments above county levels shall take measures to ease the burden on students from excessive homework and off-campus tutoring. Schools and families shall have smooth communication channels to cooperate in students’ education,” said Zang Tiewei, spokesperson for the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee.

(Xinhua)