China has ordered all primary and secondary schools to have their sports activities on campus, as a move to safeguard students' safety, according to a notice issued by the Ministries of Public Security and Education Wednesday.

Sports activities such as morning exercises or races should be limited to campus, if conditions permit, said the notice, stressing that no schools are allowed to have students jog on main streets or transportation arteries.

According to the notice, schools are prohibited from renting space to park non-campus vehicles, conduct non-teaching activities or activities that may endanger students.

In case that students have to cross or use main streets or arteries when carrying out sports activities, schools have to consult local transportation authorities in advance to work out a plan to guarantee students' safety.

Last month, a truck ploughed into a group of students who were out jogging, killing 21 and injuring 30 in North China's Shanxi Province.

The serious accident was not alone. In October, in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, five students were killed and three injured when their over-loaded school bus turned over.

To prevent such accidents from occurring, the notice requires school bus drivers to have a record of at least three years of safe driving and bans all vehicles without licenses, or not up to safety standards, from transporting students.

Relevant officials at local education authorities should be held accountable for accidents, the notice said.

Source: Xinhua