On Monday, the Ministry of Education unveiled plans to expand sports activities in schools, aiming to promote physical activity and reduce screen time among students.
Under the slogan “Less screen time – more moving, exploring, living” the initiative is part of a broader effort to improve the well-being of young people.
The initiative follows the previously announced ban on smartphones in primary schools, set to take effect in 2025. As part of the new measures, students in classical and general secondary education will receive an additional hour of physical education per week. Starting in the next school year, second-year students will benefit from three hours of sports weekly, with third-year students following suit from the 2026/2027 school year.
The Ministry emphasised that reducing screen time alone is not enough to safeguard children’s health. “It is just as important to strike a balance between the digital world and the real world.”
At the primary education level, the number of physical education hours will not be increased, but drop-in centres will offer two daily sports activities. Secondary students will also have access to two daily sports activities as part of after-school and extracurricular offerings.
