Beijing schools push banchao with eye on physical education

Primary and secondary schools across Beijing have launched thebanchao, or "super class" sports competitions, in a citywide push to embed physical education into everyday learning and strengthen student well-being.

Local education authorities expect up to 400,000 events to be held throughout the year, engaging more than 10 million student participants, in line with the capital's "health-first strategy".

Yang Yan, president of the Beijing Hepingjie No 1 Middle School Group, said the group, which includes 11 campuses in Chaoyang district, will have up to 8,300 students participating in competitions running until the end of the year.

"As a school group with a strong tradition in sports education, we will promote more than 20 types of sports to boost students' enthusiasm and physical health in thebanchaothis year," she said.

The school boasts 38 sports clubs, including soccer, basketball, volleyball and handball, providing curriculum support for individualized development. Many students with a zest for sports dedicate more effort to participate in these events; the winners are expected to advance to city-and national-level competitions.

"Banchaoshould not be just a single event for sports training or a health booster," Yang added. "We envision integrating sports education with more academic curricula, and we are currently piloting this approach."

As part of this initiative, the school offers a "sports plus psychology" class, with more integrated programs in development, aimed at better supporting students' overall well-being.

Diversified plans in many schools are in place in Beijing. The Jiangfu Experimental School in Chaoyang district, for example, plans to host a parent-student running contest in nearby Jiangfu Park in April, when the flowers are in full bloom.

The primary school attached to the Chaoyang's academy of education science also provides a diverse range of platforms, including softball, soccer, table tennis, and basketball, for students. "This enables them to acquire skills, develop interests, foster team spirit, build character, and improve physical fitness," said Wang Yi, the school's principal.

Through club activities, students with particular talents are nurtured in development pathways, allowing for personalized and tiered education, she explained.

Banchaohas been well received by students.

"The soccer games inbanchaomake me happy and have given me the opportunity to join higher-level tournaments. I hope to turn my passion into a career and perform on the international stage in the future," said Li Yiren, a 13-year-old student at the primary school.

Muntizar Mammitimin, a senior high school student at Lianpayuan campus of Hepingjie No 1 School, who comes from the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, told China Daily that he organized a soccer club with 16 members. "I believe the events will strengthen our emotional ties with teachers and students from both Xinjiang and the local community," he said.