China’s rush to switch from coal to clean energy has forced primary school pupils in a northern province to stay outdoors.
During winter, when daytime temperatures in Hebei range from 2 to 9 degrees Celsius, children attending Nanyawo Primary School in Qicun village are made to run and engage in energetic exercise drills. The lack of indoor heating also means they are being taught alfresco, according to a report by China Youth Daily.
The delay in equipping schools with adequate heating has been attributed to the countrywide campaign to promote clean energy, which has been hampered by the slow pace of infrastructure development in rural areas.
“When the cold becomes unbearable, I get them to run around the playground, which helps them stay warm,” said a teacher in Xiaotoukou Primary School, also in Qicun, who was quoted in the report.