by Xinhua writer Wang Aihua

BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- For decades, the world has maintained a deeply ingrained stereotype of Chinese students -- one involving towering stacks of test papers and thick glasses.

Hengshui High School in north China's Hebei Province, known for military-style discipline, grueling study schedules and an impressive track record of sending students to top universities worldwide, was once the epitome of this "exam factory" label.

Yet, even this rigorous school is now going to great lengths to ensure learning diversity, aligning with China's definitive roadmap to make its new generation students grow up tech-savvy, physically fit and with good mental health.

Gao Yuxi, 16, is a member of the school's model aircraft club, which is one of over 100 student clubs on campus. There, Gao and his peers have the opportunity to delve into the principles of flight and emergency response, and, beyond the confines of books, they can operate novel aerial vehicles.

"I was a total novice when I first joined the club," said Gao, who counts a gold medal he won in a nationwide drone competition among his variety of glittering awards. "I have found my real passion."

According to school administrators, an integrated education model is taking shape in the institution, which balances academics with ethical, physical and aesthetic development.

The same can be said for schools across China's extensive education network -- the largest in the world, encompassing about 470,000 schools covering diverse categories.

SHARP MINDS ON SCI-TECH

"Master math, physics and chemistry, and the world is your oyster." This adage, attributed to a renowned Chinese scientist, has served as a snapshot of China's education landscape for decades, underpinning the pivotal role of science in shaping the future of students.

This mindset is being reinforced in the era of artificial intelligence (AI), when China's top planners are pinning higher hopes on science and technology to bolster national strength.

In October, the Communist Party of China leadership adopted recommendations for formulating a key five-year national development plan, which stresses heightened self-reliance in science and technology, as well as the coordinated consolidation of education and sci-tech capabilities.

As Education Minister Huai Jinpeng puts it, the orientation of China's future undertakings in education will align closely with national priorities and sci-tech progress, and will adjust and optimize academic disciplines accordingly.

Specifically, Huai has highlighted China's plans to nurture top innovative talent in strategically vital fields such as AI and integrated circuits.

These efforts are trickling down through the hierarchy of the education sector. A November government document mandates enhanced sci-tech education in primary and secondary schools, proposing the advancement of integrated design across primary, secondary and higher education.

The vision, experts say, is to channel more high-quality sci-tech resources into basic education.

In a recent national survey, the Ministry of Education (MOE) revealed figures showing a steady rise in scientific literacy among primary and middle school students in the past three years.

From first to ninth grade, students have access to sci-tech courses on their school curricula, while regular senior high schools set mandatory credits for physics, chemistry, biology and technology, and independently establish courses in information technology and general technology.

AI is also playing a growing role in science education. In one example, Nanyu Middle School in southwest China's Chongqing has applied AI in experiment diagnosis this semester. AI can rapidly pinpoint irregularities in experiment details, Head of the School Li Xianquan said, adding that AI empowering science education has become a key lever in curricula reform.

Beijing Jingshan School, one of China's first experimental schools, is training AI agents tailored to seasoned teachers. "Once we succeed, we will be able to expand the educational benefits to schools in remote areas," according to Principal Li Zhiwei.

PHYSICAL FITNESS

All study and no play can lead to low fitness levels and poor eyesight, with statistics showing that one in every two Chinese children and adolescents is near-sighted, and one in every five students between six and 17 years old is overweight or obese.

Go to the playground, China is telling its youngsters -- and is doing so with firm, persistent resolve.

Having elevated sports to unprecedented prominence in school evaluation systems over recent years, Chinese authorities last month renewed their call to prioritize students' physical health.

A series of guidelines issued by central departments in November mandate a minimum of two hours of comprehensive physical activities each day for primary and middle school students.

Schools are encouraged to incorporate one quality physical activity session in the morning and another in the afternoon, each lasting at least 30 minutes.

"This represents a progressive approach, enabling more precise interventions to address insufficient physical activity among students during school hours," said Liu Xin from Beijing Sport University.

The overarching goal, Minister Huai said, is for students to "sweat through effort and shine with ambition."

The country is also advancing the integration of sports and education to establish unimpeded pathways for athletic talent development.

The November document outlines a clearer mechanism and career trajectory for elite athletes, ensuring compatibility with the country's existing college entrance exam system, bringing much-needed balance for those striving to complete academic credits while training for competitions.

As a computer engineering major and professional football player, 20-year-old Qu Geping has his eyes set on two goals: competing in the Chinese Super League and conquering C programming. "I want to achieve what many deem 'impossible.'"

SUNNY SMILES

When the film "When the Night Meets Light" hit the silver screen in China this October, it triggered quite a response.

China's first non-fiction film on adolescent psychology documents the stories of children seeking help amid psychological and emotional struggles, and learning how to rescue themselves.

Tian Yan, the film's director and a former media professional, revealed how she immersed herself in classrooms, medical institutions and social organizations, conducting hundreds of interviews with children, parents, educators and mental health professionals.

Drawing from real cases and records, she utilizes documentary cinema to explore an urgent question: How can we better understand and support children in their rite of passage?

Behind the film's thought-provoking narrative lie alarming statistics on mental health issues among Chinese adolescents.

A nationwide survey in 2021 found that 17.5 percent of children and adolescents experience mental health disorders, with indications that these issues are emerging at increasingly young ages.

A 2023 report showed that among the 95 million people in China who have been diagnosed with depression, 30 percent are under the age of 18.

Experts attribute this rise in mental health issues among minors to escalating pressure from families and schools, along with greater access to the internet.

In response, the government has accelerated efforts to alleviate student stress in recent years. In its latest move, the MOE has ordered a reduction in the frequency of routine exams in primary and secondary schools.

Prior to this, the ministry rolled out a package of measures that, among other impacts, cap written homework volumes and ensure exam difficulty levels remain appropriate. Schools nationwide are also encouraged to designate one day each week as a "homework-free day."

These measures have reiterated China's commitment to maintaining strict oversight over subject-based training during the nine-year compulsory education period, which spans primary to junior high school.

Even Hengshui High School, despite its "exam factory" reputation, is now committed to building an inclusive environment to support mental well-being.

Its head, Xi Huisuo, told Xinhua that the school has launched diverse psychological courses like career planning and psychological theater, "along with mental health counseling, monitoring and intervention programs."