China: Children are getting taller but weaker

In the last few years Chinese children have become taller, heavier, but health is weaker, an education official said. This is both a warning and a criticism of parents and teachers who put pressure on students to learn.

"The method of education is not appropriate, considering learning is above all and imposing the burden of learning on students has seriously affected their health development" - Mr. Liao Wenke, person in charge of broadcasting Youth development of the Chinese Ministry of Education said.

"The strength, tolerance and lung capacity of children continue to decline rapidly especially in the last 10 years," Liao told a news conference.

The rate of Chinese children is second highest in the world.(Photo: Newsphoto, VTC)

The average height of children aged 7-18 increased by 1cm from 2000-2005 and the average heavy weight also increased but the capacity of sports activities decreased. Obese students are increasing rapidly and the rate of children with myopia is still very high. China is currently the second largest school in the world with school-age children, partly due to learning too much. In addition, the problem of obesity in adolescents in this country is also becoming a major health concern.

In China, parents and teachers put pressure on children to succeed from a young age. The rest and relaxation time of children is increasingly cut down to do homework to get into a university.

The Department of Education requires schools across the country to pay more attention to sports activities and reduce the burden of learning with them by reducing homework and increasing exercise time.

Phuong Lien