Primary school students should have a less-stressful new semester, thanks to new national education guidelines that aim to reduce students" workload. However, many parents question whether the proposed guidelines go too far.

The ministry will release the guidelines soon after it reviews the 5,956 public comments on the new rules. The guidelines were open to public suggestions for a week from Aug 22, and will be revised based on the review of those comments.

More than 90 percent of those who commented voiced support for most of the 10 items, including improving transparency in enrollment, forbidding cram schools during weekends and vacations, and encouraging students to exercise for an hour a day.

In many other countries, students do not have any homework because for pupils who are 12 and younger, spending six to seven hours a day at school is already physically stressful.

They need more time to get more sleep and exercise, and develop their curiosity and their own hobbies.

Although the public is generally enthusiastic about the regulations, some parents are concerned about particular proposals, including eliminating written homework for all primary school students, and reducing or even canceling tests.

"Students" exam results are still an important yardstick to measure whether the teacher has done a good job and how good the school is. So we feel pressured. We will have to ensure the students are competitive in tests, but not give them too much work,