Starting from the fall semester, primary and junior middle schools under China's nine-year free compulsory education system will provide students with after school programs every day. The extra hours at school will be used to either help students finish their homework or carry out extracurricular activities based on students' interests, according to the Ministry of Education.
The nationwide "double reduction" policy aims to relieve students of the burden of excessive homework and reduce the need for after-school tutoring. One of the key measures is to allow students to stay on school premises for two hours beyond 4 pm, the previous closing time for schools.
After-school tutoring has been canceled since the enforcement of the national policy on study burden cut.
The students are therefore left with quite a large amount of spare time, posing new requirements for the families.
One of the key measures of the "double reduction" policy is to allow students to stay on school premises for two hours beyond 4 pm, the previous closing time for schools, to pursue their hobbies and other after-school activities.
At three o'clock in the afternoon, volunteers from Nanjing Youfu Xijie Elementary School were explaining the secrets of rocket lift-off to students.
"I think it’s fun to take this class with my classmates in the after-school hours and it’s fun to see a rocket fly into the sky," said Bai Shize, 2nd grader, Nanjing Youfu Xijie Elementary School.
"As a parent I came to the school today as a volunteer. I am very supportive of the after-school activities carried out by the school. I will use my professional knowledge to cooperate with the school to instruct the students.In addition to the textbook knowledge, I will broaden the students' horizons," said Man Chaoyuan, Lecturer, School of Intelligent Control, Jinling Institute of Technology, After-Class Service Volunteer.
Starting this week, primary and junior middle schools in Nanjing will provide students with after school programs every day.
1985 children from Youfu Xijie Primary School signed up for after-school services, accounting for 97.6% of the school's total students.
The school provides after-school services for students and parents in three time periods that are coded A, B, and C for parents to choose from. Complete homework in time A, club activities in time B, and postpone care in time C. Delayed care lasts until 6 pm. If the parents are still unable to pick up their kids, the school will continue to take care of them.
"Children who participate in after-school services will participate in a club activity every day. Five different clubs can be joined in 5 days without paying any fees," said Zhu Yong, Deputy headmaster, Youfu Xijie Primary School.
Schools in Nanjing will also supplement the pool of after-school service teachers, focusing on school teachers’ responsibility, and enlist retired teachers, parents, outstanding teachers and students from colleges and universities, and qualified social professionals in the fields of sports, art, technology and other fields to join the after-school services.
According to the MOE, schools should provide additional day care services for students with special needs and reduce the burden on parents in case of late pick-up.
The move is part of China's recent efforts to ease the burden of excessive homework and off-campus tutoring for students undergoing compulsory education.
The MOE also requires every compulsory education institution in the country to make plans based on their own actual conditions and ensure that relevant services respect the will of not only students, but also parents and teachers.
As the upcoming nationwide after-school service will inevitably increase the working hours of teachers, the MOE has encouraged schools to hire retired teachers and volunteers and make use of resources from communities, science museums, art galleries, and high-tech enterprises.
