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Sports insurance policy to protect city schools from litigious parents
2016/1/19 1:57:51

  EIGHTY percent of all primary and secondary schools in Shanghai have signed up to a new insurance scheme created by the city’s education commission in association with China Life.

  The commission told a press conference yesterday that the scheme will pay out in the event of children being injured while playing sport at school.

  The fund is principally designed to give schools more confidence to hold “vigorous or competitive” sporting events without fear of litigation from parents, Ding Li, director of the sport, health and arts department at the Shanghai Education Commission.

  “Shanghai has been encouraging schools to promote physical exercise and sporting activities, such as requiring all children take part in at least one hour of physical activity per day,” he said.

  “But the existing insurance system did not provide sufficient cover for an enhanced sporting curriculum.”

  Ding Guoping, vice principal at Guohe Primary School, said teachers across the city have long faced a dilemma with regard to the staging of physical exercise classes.

  “We know the importance of sports in aiding physical development, but when children get hurt in class, we are the ones who have to take the blame from parents,” he said.

  “As a result, PE teachers and school officials are reluctant to allow lessons to be too physical or competitive.”

  Fu Dingsheng, a researcher at East China Normal University, described the situation as a “vicious circle.”

  “If children are not allowed to play sports or take part in strenuous activities they miss out on the chance to develop a good sense of balance and manual dexterity, and that makes them vulnerable,” he said.

  “When children are physically vulnerable they are far more likely to get hurt,” he said.

  Shao Bin, a PE teacher and football coach at a local school, told Shanghai Daily that while he believes the fund might ease some parents’ and schools’ concerns, he is more interested in building trust.

  “It’s not all about money; some parents just want to make sure their children don’t get hurt,” he said.

  “I maintain a good line of communication with parents so that they understand the importance of physical exercise, while also being aware of the possibility that their kids might get a bump or bruise here or there,” he said.

  “If they trust me, they are more likely to allow their children to get involved in more activities.”

  Not every parent is convinced, however.

  Sha Qingyi, the mother of an 8-year-old boy, told Shanghai Daily that while she likes the idea of accident insurance, she has no plans to let her son take part in any activities she considers dangerous.

  “I let my son participate in regular exercises and games, but won’t let him do high-risk activities,” she said.

  “Fund or no fund, what I care about most is his health, and that isn’t going to change.”