Recently, it has been reported that the class time of primary and secondary schools will undergo major changes, which is expected to be implemented in March 2024.
This adjustment includes the same 8:00 a.m. in the morning, the shortened lunch break to 1 hour, the extended 6:00 p.m. in the afternoon, and no longer scheduled evening self-study in the evening.
This adjustment is designed to meet the sleep needs of students and improve learning outcomes, but it creates a number of challenges for the education system.
In fact, in April 2021, the Ministry of Education issued a "sleep order", which made clear requirements for students' necessary sleep time, school work and rest time, and nighttime bedtime.
Elementary school students should sleep 10 hours a day, and junior high school students should sleep 9 hours a day; Morning classes are generally no earlier than 8:20 in primary schools and 8 in secondary schools.
In recent years, in order to solve the problems faced by parents and children, local education departments have adjusted class times and promoted after-school extended services.
This measure has largely relieved family pressure, allowing children to complete homework, participate in extracurricular activities, or pursue personal interests at school. However, the implementation of this policy has caused a lot of trouble for teachers.
Teachers' working hours have been extended, especially for class teachers, and the normal commuting time has been turned into overtime, posing new challenges to their work-life balance.
Adjust the benefits for students
The adjustment of class schedules is a positive change for students. Earlier classes started early, causing many students to get up in a hurry in the morning and not even have time to eat breakfast. This rush has a negative impact on students' physical and mental health, affecting their learning outcomes.
With the adjusted class schedule, students have more time to work and rest regularly and ensure adequate sleep. Getting enough sleep not only improves student learning outcomes but also has a positive impact on physical and mental health.
They are able to devote themselves to learning in a fuller state of mind, reducing fatigue during class, and thus better understanding and absorbing knowledge.
A win-win situation for parents
The adjusted school schedule is also a win-win situation for parents. With the after-school extended service, the time for students to get to and from class is basically the same as the working hours of adults, which solves the problem of parents picking up and dropping off their children.
In addition, children are able to complete homework at school and ask questions directly from teachers, reducing the burden on parents to help their children with homework. This is a very practical policy for families with busy schedules who find it difficult to find time to spend with their children doing homework.
However, it is also important to note that some parents are concerned that their children may come home hungry after school and have to do homework at night. Therefore, a voluntary model of participation may be a more appropriate solution to meet the needs of individual parents.
Challenges faced by teachers
While the changes to school schedules have benefited students and parents, they have created a number of challenges for teachers. The adjusted class hours have made teachers work longer hours, especially class teachers, who have been able to commute to and from work normally.
Teachers need more time to deal with students' problems, which increases lesson preparation. This undoubtedly increases the workload of teachers and has a negative impact on the balance of family life.
Some teachers may even sacrifice time with their families as a result, exacerbating work-life tensions.
Therefore, education administrators need to carefully consider how to properly organize teachers' working hours to ensure their work-life balance.
Specific considerations for implementation
Adjusting class schedules is a reform that requires specific consideration. There are differences in living habits, transportation conditions and educational resources in different regions and schools.
Therefore, these factors need to be fully taken into account when implementing specific measures to adjust class schedules. Detailed understanding of each school, class, and student is needed to ensure that realistic and realistic schedules are developed.
In addition, there is a need for research to understand the views of teachers and parents on the new system in order to better meet the needs of different groups.
The face of education reform
This adjustment is a reform of the education system, which means that we need to face up to the challenges and problems involved. While the reforms are beneficial to students and parents, there is also a need to pay attention to teachers' work pressures and life-life balance.
While pushing for reforms, policymakers need to think about how to adjust teaching programs to ensure the quality of teaching. This process is not only a reflection and adjustment of the education system, but also a way to achieve real equity and quality improvement in education.
By taking these issues seriously, we hope that this reform will create better conditions for the healthy growth and all-round development of children.
A message from Guo's mother
In the process of promoting reform, we hope that this reform will balance the needs of students, parents and teachers, and truly create better conditions for the healthy growth and all-round development of children.
Although reform will always be accompanied by challenges and difficulties, it is by overcoming these problems that the education system can better adapt to the development and changes of society and provide a better learning environment and development opportunities for the next generation.
About author:Guo Ma, a family education instructor, focuses on sharing parenting knowledge, parent-child education experience, marriage and family insights, welcome to pay attention.