CNBC AI News, August 10 – Foshan, China, is set to join the ranks of cities experimenting with a more balanced academic calendar. According to local reports, the Foshan Municipal Education Bureau recently issued a notice outlining plans for a pilot program introducing both autumn and spring breaks for students in compulsory education starting in the 2025-2026 academic year.
The initiative, detailed in the “Notice on Pilot Work of Spring and Autumn Holiday in Primary and Secondary Schools in Foshan City,” will grant students a total of five extra days off. The autumn break is slated for three days, while the spring break will consist of two days.
During these mini-breaks, the Education Bureau is emphasizing a shift away from traditional homework. The notice explicitly states that schools should “strictly control the total amount of written assignments” and “encourage students to participate in social practice activities.” For families who require childcare during the breaks, the city plans to establish centralized on-campus care facilities, organized by district or education group.
The Foshan Education Bureau frames this move as a direct response to the national “double reduction” policy, aimed at alleviating the academic burdens on students. These breaks are intended to allow students to “adjust their learning rhythm,” “reduce excessive academic pressure,” and “form a good balance between work and rest,” ultimately encouraging them to “go out of the classroom, into society, and into nature.” The pilot program will officially launch city-wide in the 2025-2026 academic year.
Specific dates for the 2025-2026 breaks have already been determined: The autumn break will run from November 12th to 14th, 2025, encompassing three days. The two-day spring break will be strategically positioned around the annual “May Day” holiday. The precise dates will be finalized pending the State Council’s announcement of the holiday schedule for 2026.
While Foshan is a relatively recent adopter, the concept of autumn and spring breaks is not entirely new to China. Hangzhou, for example, pioneered this approach, implementing autumn and spring breaks as early as 2004, and has maintained the system for over two decades.
This year has seen a growing trend, with several regions across China expressing interest in or moving towards implementing similar provisions for primary and secondary school students, potentially signaling a broader shift towards prioritizing student well-being and experiential learning.
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