Jiangsu schools embrace new timetable with longer breaks

Primary and secondary school students are returning to school today for the spring semester, one day after the Lantern Festival.

With the lingering festive atmosphere, they welcome an extra dose of good news: the break time between classes has been extended to 15 minutes, thanks to Jiangsu's new "2·15 campaign", which refers to a total of 2 hours dedicated to physical exercise and 15 minutes of breaks between classes each school day. All schools in the province's compulsory education stage are expected to upgrade their timetables accordingly.

Photo credit: The Information Office of Nanjing

The goal? To give children more time to rest their eyes, stretch their legs, or catch up with friends. During each break, students are encouraged to step out of the classroom and engage in light activities to refresh and recharge. Many schools have brought back traditional physical games, like skipping rope and kicking jianzi (Chinese shuttlecock).

Schools across Jiangsu have the flexibility to set their own timetables, as long as they meet the required break and class times. 

And the changes don't stop here. According to the notice from the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education, starting in the fall semester of 2025, all primary schools will offer one physical education class every day. Secondary schools will begin piloting the same program, with full coverage expected by the fall of 2026.

Source: JSBC Education