The Ministry of Education (MOE) recently issued a circular detailing measures to bolster the professional development of physical education (PE) teachers in primary and secondary schools in the new era. The measures aim to advance the PE teaching profession and create a robust pipeline for PE teachers in compulsory education.
Upholding the principle that “health comes first”, the document identified key tasks for primary and secondary schools across the country in building a strong PE teacher workforce and guaranteeing the mental and physical health of students. To address existing challenges such as the uneven distribution of PE teachers, skill gaps, and insufficient welfare support, the circular proposed several policy measures. They include strengthening teacher ethics, enhancing training programs, optimizing resource distribution, upgrading teaching skills, and improving evaluation and incentive systems. These measures are expected to promote deeper integration of PE with educational goals while enhancing the physical fitness and holistic development of students.
The document also directed schools nationwide to develop comprehensive plans for the development of local PE teaching staff, taking into account changing demographics among school-age children, current composition of teaching staff, and other factors. Schools were also instructed to refine their budget planning to encourage social funding for PE programs in primary and secondary schools and increase investment in PE development through diverse funding channels.