China passes education law to reduce excessive homework

In its bid to reduce stress and to promote children’s moral and intellectual development, China has passed a family education law that reduces homework and private tutoring for children.

CAPE TOWN, October 25 (ANA) – In its bid to reduce stress and to promote children’s moral and intellectual development, China has passed a family education law that reduces homework and private tutoring for children.

According to South China Morning Post, the new law was passed by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee on Saturday and comes after strict measures were put in place in August that limit video game time and online gaming.

Added to that, China also banned after-school private tutoring for major subjects, to ease the financial pressure on families. However, schools were tasked with meeting the extra needs of the pupils on campus.

Meanwhile, the full text for the new legislation has not yet been published, but officials say it has been designed to encourage parents to nurture social habits and intellectual development.

Users on Chinese social media app Weibo have been vocal, with one user, Deng Boyun, saying the family education law was not something that could easily solve their social issues.

“The crisis facing the current state of family education is affecting the healthy mental and physical development of children,” said Deng Boyun.

“Urban residents find it difficult to provide their children the socialisation with peers needed for them to be part of society,” he said.

Another user had said it was unfair that parents now needed to come home from working a 9am to 9pm job six days a week and then have to fulfil duties of family education.

The Guardian reported that the law will be implemented from January 1 and that Chinese officials are considering legislation to punish parents if they commit crimes or have very bad behaviour.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher