Recently, the Ministry of Education has released the new curriculum standard for labor education in compulsory (义务) education. China’s public schools will soon ask students to put down their books and electronic devices and pick up brooms and kettles. The standard has made labor education an independent course and students will take courses on labor skills at least once a week starting from the next term.

       Have you grown taller and stronger? On May 3, the Ministry of Education brought out the results of the eighth national health survey for students from elementary school through college and university. The survey comes out every five years. This year’s survey showed Chinese students’ overall (总的) health and fitness have improved since 2017. For example, the height of boys and girls increased 1.69 cm and 0.97 cm respectively in the age group of 13 to 15.

       The “double reduction” policy really helps me. Our homework is clearly less than before. I can finish it at school with no need to take it home. Instead, I can review or preview school work when I’m home. Besides, teachers now teach at a much slower pace so that we have enough time to understand what we have learned. We don’t need to buy workbooks anymore and the exercises are mainly from the textbook. I’m also happy to find there are fewer exams.