From this September, the new policy on students' sleeping time set by the Ministry of Education has been officially carried out nationwide. According to the new policy, the first class in the morning at primary schools is not supposed to be earlier than 8:20, and that of high schools no earlier than 8:00. Schools are also not able to require students to come in before class for any learning activities. If possible, schools must also guarantee nap time during lunch break for students. The new policy shows the importance the government attaches to students' health.
Deng Mengyu, a high school English teacher from Shenzhen Hongshan Middle School, said that their school already put some measures into effect to make sure that students are well rested and using their time effectively. "We encourage students to manage their morning time by themselves instead of sitting in the classroom," she said. Some students need more sleep while others prefer doing exercise to start the day. So the school's dormitories open doors at 6:00. At noon, students will have a one-hour nap time, ensuring that they can learn effectively in the afternoon.
Zheng Xiaowan, a high school student also from Shenzhen Hongshan Middle School, supports this policy. She believes that the quality of studying is not necessarily related to the length of time spent on it. "When well rested, students' psychological burden will be reduced accordingly, and they will be more ready for study tasks," she said.
Meanwhile, there are also voices expressing concerns. "The new policy is a challenge to our self-discipline", said Zhang Fuyue from Chaoyang No 2 High School, Liaoning province. "More sleeping time can lead to oversleeping in the morning or staying up late at night."
The intention of the policy is obviously positive. With efforts from both schools and students, the policy can lead to expected results.
