- physical education
- China pays great attention to physical education (PE). The State Council’s ‘Regulations on Physical Education in Educational Institutions’ (1990) defines PE as a programme to build students’ physical health; to increase their knowledge of physical training; to build character and moral strength; and to cultivate prospective athletes. To promote PE, China has made great efforts to upgrade its PE teachers. PE teachers in K-12 must have at least an associate PE degree. China now has twenty specialized PE colleges, sixty PE programmes in comprehensive universities, and over 200 PE teacher training schools. A total of 300,000 PE teachers have been licensed.PE in China takes the form of class teaching, extra-curricular activities, after-school training, and sports competitions, of which class teaching is fundamental. PE is a compulsory course from primary school until one’s sophomore year of college.Failure in PE disqualifies a high school senior from enrolling in college. Extra-curricular activities are part of PE, which include bodybuilding, dancing and recreational sports. Elementary and secondary school students are required to do morning and recess exercises. Talented students receive systematic training in spare-time sports schools, which number in the thousands throughout the country and have turned out a great number of outstanding athletes. Sports competitions are organized on a regular basis: the National School Games are held every three years and the National University Games every four years. Research in physical education with modern technology is conducted regularly and systematically.Jones, Robin (1999). ‘Sport and Physical Education in School and University’. In James Riordan and Robin Jones (eds), Sport and Physical Education in China. New York: E. and F.N.Spon, 90–119.HU MINGRONG
Encyclopedia of contemporary Chinese culture. Compiled by EdwART. 2011.