The Ministry of Education has ordered primary and secondary schools to increase calligraphy classes in an aim to combat widespread keyboard use that has cramped children's penmanship. [Xinhua]

新華社消息，隨著電腦鍵盤的普及，中小學生漢字書寫能力有所削弱，教育部要求各地中小學加強書法教育。
The Ministry of Education has ordered primary and secondary schools to increase calligraphy classes in an aim to combat widespread keyboard use that has cramped children's penmanship, Xinhua reported.

根據周五公布在教育部網站上的指導意見，三至六年級的小學生，每周要安排一課時的書法課，普通高中應設置與書法有關的選修課程，中小學校還可在形式多樣的課外活動中開展書法教育。
In a notice issued on the MOE website Friday, students in grades three to six will have one hour of calligraphy class every week, and senior high schools should set up calligraphy as an optional course. Primary and secondary schools should also introduce various after-school activities on calligraphy.

概括來講，書法教育應培養學生正確的寫字姿勢，書寫規范漢字，養成良好習慣。
In general, the courses will teach students to write standard Chinese characters in a proper way, using the right gestures.

高年級學生還應學習鑒賞歷代重要書法家作品。
Students in higher grades should also learn to appreciate the work of ancient calligraphers.

意見要求，書法教育基礎較好的地區和省份，應爭取在今年秋季即九月份開學開設書法課。
According to the notice, provinces and regions with adequate education resources should start calligraphy lessons in September, the beginning of the fall semester.

(China.org.cn August 29, 2011)