Shanghai Daily News

Changning has recently released a new policy framework and guidelines for the use of the district's schools as community facilities.

This was carried out as part of the implementation of President Hu Jintao's signature concept of building a "harmonious society."

According to the plan, all 60 primary and junior schools in the area will be accessible to locals after school or during weekends and holidays. In addition, the number of public facilities in one school should not be below four. This refers to libraries, playgrounds, auditoriums and music rooms, among other facilities.

The district currently has five public sports stadiums and a 310,000-square-meter exercise area. Such facilities can hardly satisfy the needs of its 740,000 residents. In addition, the inconvenient location and high fees for use of the stadiums are considered unreasonable by locals.

Since 2003, the district has made considerable investment in schools through the development of high-quality infrastructure that includes sports and arts facilities to give students access to the best learning environment. However, the district also wants to ensure communities benefit by this.

Many local schools and communities have already experienced significant benefits as a result of the shared-facilities partnerships.

These range from hiring out school playgrounds on weekends and holidays, opening schools for meeting places, recreational and sporting use, and creating space to support holiday activities for students. Shared libraries, resource and technology centers and shared performing arts spaces have also been implemented.

"We want to provide better availability of sports, arts and other facilities to the communities," said district Director Chen Chaoxian. "At the same time, we are providing a stronger social network between the schools and communities through this project."

The exercising area for Changning residents is now up to 0.93 square meters a person, an increase of 0.43 square meters before the shared-facility project started.

Li Xiuhua, a local woman who has lived in the district for more than 20 years, is someone who has benefited from the policy.

"There is no park or public square around my apartment and going to exercise has long been a problem bothering me," she said. "Since the primary school next to my home opened for public use, I never feel alone during weekends and holidays. I find myself more involved with the society and young people. Besides, the charge in school is pretty low."

Bei Er Primary School in the western part of the district has invited folk artists in the communities to perform and teach the students, attracting good response from the neighbors.

Chen Lu has been an active participant in her school and has become more enthusiastic about folk art.

"I participated in the shadow play group recently which was much better than the boring school lessons in comparison," said the 11-year-old. "I am expecting more groups like that to appear at my school."

Safety, however, has been a concern of the district. With greater public use, a safeguard group has been established to prevent potential damage to school facilities and injury to students and citizens.

According to district statistics, about 10,000 residents have been involved in activities at the schools each week since the policy went into effect.