Schools across several parts of China are shifting their daily schedules later, with some primary schools now starting classes at 9 a.m., according to 新浪财经_金融信息服务商. The changes, reported by multiple outlets, affect both arrival times and evening study sessions.
In Jiangsu province, a number of middle and high schools began issuing revised timetable notices from November 1, 新浪财经_金融信息服务商 reports. The adjustments move back the start of the school day and shorten evening self-study periods.
According to 江阴发布, schools in Jiangyin — including high schools — were set to adopt new arrival times from November 5, with implementation planned to be completed within the week. Under the plan, primary pupils arrive at 8:00, junior middle school students at 7:40 and senior high students at 7:20.
In Chengdu, 蒙彼利埃小学 told parents in an October letter that from November 7, the start of winter, students would report at 8:40. Earlier this year, at the beginning of the spring term, 成都列五中学 announced it had scrapped morning reading across all three junior middle school grades, with students arriving no earlier than 7:50 and formal lessons beginning at 8:00.
The outlets framed the moves around sleep. 中华网 reported that Chengdu schools said they were strictly applying the "8 o'clock system" to ensure students get enough rest, while 驱动之家 described the changes as intended to guarantee eight hours of sleep. ThePaper.cn, in a commentary, argued the debate over later start times should begin from the premise that education is not a contest over who rises earliest.
Watch for whether other provinces follow Jiangsu and Chengdu with their own timetable notices.
