The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the National Health Commission and the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration, has introduced a new set of guidelines to safeguard children’s eye health, focusing on limiting screen time and ensuring sufficient sleep.
Released this month, the guidelines recommend that primary school students spend no more than 30 percent of classroom time on electronic devices and receive at least 10 hours of sleep each night. These measures come in response to a growing prevalence of myopia, or nearsightedness, among Chinese children and adolescents.
Government data reveals that over half of the nation’s youth are affected by myopia, with 52.7 percent of children and adolescents showing signs of the condition. Among these, 14.5 percent of 6-year-olds and more than one-third of primary school students are impacted.
Experts link the rising myopia rates to factors such as limited outdoor activity, heavy homework loads, excessive screen time, and inadequate eye care. In response, China has already implemented several policies aimed at reducing vision problems, with the new guidelines building on previous efforts to address the issue.
To combat these challenges, the guidelines call for a minimum of two hours of outdoor activity each day, including at least one hour of physical exercise, to help alleviate visual fatigue. Teachers are encouraged to adhere strictly to class schedules, ensure students take regular breaks, and encourage eye health by looking at distant objects. Schools are also urged to improve classroom environments by aligning seating and lighting with national visual health standards.
As part of the new measures, schools are required to display visual acuity charts in classrooms, conduct eye exercises twice daily, and regularly monitor students’ eyesight.
Further, the guidelines support the government’s “double reduction” policy, which aims to ease the academic burden on students by limiting homework and reducing dependence on extracurricular tutoring. Primary school teachers are prohibited from teaching beyond the official curriculum, and online learning sessions are limited to 30 minutes with mandatory 10-minute breaks.
Regarding digital devices, the new guidelines restrict their use to no more than 30 percent of total class time. For homework, students in the first and second grades are not required to complete written assignments, while older primary students are limited to one hour of homework.
Sleep is another key focus, with the guidelines recommending 10 hours of rest per night for primary school students. Parents are encouraged to limit screen time at home, promote outdoor activities, and collaborate with schools to safeguard their children’s eye health.
The Ministry of Education also emphasized the importance of preventive measures against myopia, urging local education departments to enhance health assessments, increase awareness of eye care, and implement regular vision monitoring programs to reduce the incidence of myopia among young people.
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