The Ministry of Education today said it would consult with local governments on a public proposal to delay middle and high school daily start times to 10am to address chronic sleep deprivation.
The proposal, which has already received more than 10,000 endorsements, suggested that middle and high-school classes should run from 10am to 4pm to reduce sleep deprivation that increases risk of depression, anxiety and self-harm.
It would also give students more time to pursue personal interests and participate in social activities, creating more learning opportunities outside of class, the proposal said.
Photo courtesy of the New Taipei City Department of Education
In response, the ministry today thanked the public for paying attention to this issue and proposing a solution.
Since middle schools and many high schools fall under the jurisdiction of local governments, the ministry said it would deliberate with local governments and provide a concrete response to the proposal by Nov. 14.
Research has shown that middle and high-school students’ biological clock lends itself to getting up after 8am, Tri-Service General Hospital psychiatrist Yeh Chih-pin (葉啟斌) said.
Each age group has different standard bedtimes, with lower-grade students needing to go to bed at about 9pm, Yeh said, adding that this bedtime is moved back by about an hour each year.
However, sleep needs vary from person to person, Yeh said.
Some people feel energized with just four to five hours of sleep, while others need about seven to eight hours, Yeh said.
In addition, 10 to 20 percent of people are naturally late sleepers and late risers, making them most energetic and efficient later in the day, he said.
This makes it difficult to set a schedule that is suitable for everyone, Yeh added.
Maintaining flexibility and choice is good, just as other fields embrace people with diverse traits, he said, adding that corresponding support measures are necessary.
Yeh said that in some environments, students’ interest in learning declines because teaching is mostly lecture-based with little hands-on practice.
As a result, they are drowsy during the day and fall asleep later at night, which alters their biological clock over time, he said.
This is different from innate traits that make people night owls, and requires understanding and intervention to improve, he added.
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