Tsinghua University first imposed the requirement in the 1910s, but dropped it later when admission numbers soared. Liu Bo, director of the physical education department, recalled (via Global Times):
“Students unable to swim could neither graduate nor study abroad. The policy was ended due to an increase in enrollment and lack of facilities.”
Liu said its reimplementation gives students “essential survival skills” and improves their physical fitness.
The announcement easily caught fire on Chinese social media as some questioned the rule’s relevance, especially for city-dwellers. Others, however, were more welcoming.
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