China to boost campus sports leagues under 'Health First' push

China will widely promote soccer, basketball and volleyball competitions in schools, with class-and school-level leagues helping energize campuses, Huai Jinpeng, minister of education, said on Saturday.

The initiative is part of a broader campaign to translate the "Health First" philosophy into concrete actions and outcomes, ensuring that every student masters at least one sports skill for lifelong benefit, he said at a news conference on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress, the country's top legislature.

Huai said 15-minute class breaks and two hours of daily physical activity have been implemented nationwide in primary and secondary schools.

According to official monitoring, the overall physical fitness rate among students from primary schools to universities has been steadily improving, while the overall myopia rate has dropped for four consecutive years, he said.

The ministry's first meeting after the Spring Festival holiday focused on the "Health First" theme, signaling a strong emphasis on the issue, he noted.

"The first priority is to get students moving. Physical exercise is seen as the most effective way to encourage students to leave the classroom for the playground," he said.

Meanwhile, a new round of the action plan to boost students' psychological health will be implemented. This includes cultivating positive psychological traits through extensive participation in sports, arts performances, labor practices, outdoor adventures, reading campaigns and popular games, he said.

Schools will strengthen teacher-student bonds, ensure an adequate number of professional mental health teachers, and provide professional guidance and counseling. "We must run education with warmth, creating a reassuring, comfortable and caring campus atmosphere," he said.

Schools will also be held accountable, with student physical and mental health becoming a key factor in school evaluations and a major focus of education supervision, he added.