Study of physical activity among middle school students in China: current status, challenges, and countermeasures

The purpose of the study is to analyze the state of physical activity among middle school students in China, identify issues, and propose countermeasures. Research methods and organization. Methods of analysis and generalization of scientific and methodological literature and normative documents of the People's Republic of China have been employed, along with surveys and methods of mathematical statistics. The empirical foundation of the research consists of official data collected by the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China in 22 provinces. Research results and conclusions. A comprehensive analysis of the physical activity status of Chinese secondary school students has been conducted. The study focuses on three key issues: the systematic lack of time allocated for physical education classes, the formalized content of physical education lessons, and the acute shortage of infrastructure for physical exercise. Data collected by the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China across 22 provinces reveals that only 38.7% of students meet the daily physical activity norms established in the National Action Plan for the Development of School Sports (2020). As practical solutions, the authors recommend: implementing multi-tiered regulatory measures and social campaigns; improving facilities for physical education, particularly in rural areas; optimizing the content of physical education lessons; and modifying the assessment system for students' physical fitness, including increasing its weight in admissions to higher education institutions. The aim of these measures is to overcome the existing imbalance between students' academic performance and their physical development. It is justified to assert that in order to achieve the goal of comprehensive development of middle school students, it is essential to unite the efforts of the school, family, and society to foster educational interaction and create a multi-level support system.