Excellence in academics is no longer the be all and end all for a lot of striving Chinese parents and children. Combined pressure from universities abroad for a more “well-rounded” education for their enrollees, plus a general interest in other forms of skills and activities, mean that Chinese parents are becoming more open to activities other than music, dance, martial arts or English.
Extracurricular activities such as cooking, swimming, flower arranging and yoga are becoming increasingly popular. However, it seems now it is not only the parents acknowledging the benefits that come along with it but the school boards themselves. In Nanjing alone, sixteen middle and elementary schools have all begun to offer their students the opportunity to learn sailing. The sport has increased so much in popularity that registration for the classes at Nanjing Foreign Language School filled up completely within 1 minute of opening.
Speaking with the official English-language website of the China News Service, ECNS, faculty member Yu Wei of Nanjing Foreign Language School said, “Students can not only confront the waves, the wind and challenges in the sport, but also can apply what they learn in the classroom like geography, mathematics, and physics to real life”.
“Besides, the sport can foster their independence and spirit of teamwork, which implements the concept of education for all-round development”, Yu added.
With the average cost of a three-hour lesson being ¥100, acquiring yachting skills is no longer the reserve of the wealthy in Nanjing. In addition, Nanjing is blessed with many lakes, which gives way to plenty of room for young aspiring sailors. Nanjing also has a strong sporting culture, popularised by the 2014 youth Olympics, a culture that is diversifying into many fields.
For the foreseeable future and possibly beyond, most Chinese students must inevitably spend their entire school life working towards the dreaded Gaokao college entrance examination. Whether they like it or not, rote learning will still take up the majority of their time.
For them, and for others destined for foreign universities, it is welcome news that local schools are making positive steps toward taking a little of the focus off of studies and on to other skills, such as sailing.
