Guideline to improve physical education

China's Ministry of Education has issued a new guideline to strengthen the physical education workforce in primary and secondary schools and improve students' physical fitness, officials said.

The notice, the first of its kind, aims to address shortages of physical education teachers, recruitment difficulties and the need to enhance professional competencies among educators, according to an official from the ministry's department of teacher affairs.

Under the new rules, full-time physical education teachers will have class limits: no more than five in primary schools, six in middle schools and eight in high schools. Schools are also encouraged to hire full-time or part-time specialists in football, basketball and volleyball through various recruitment methods.