Beyond Physical Education: Seminar addressed the challenges of the 60-minute law in schools

The seminar “Implementing 60 minutes of physical activity in schools”, organized by the UC Faculty of Education and the Ministry of Health, generated great interest, bringing together more than 200 attendees in person and another 300 virtually.

Law 21.778, better known as the “60-minute law”, seeks to incorporate daily physical activity into the school day and, while there is a broad consensus on the need to address sedentary lifestyles, there is also some concern about key aspects that still need to be defined, especially considering that the regulations will come into force from March 2027 for preschool and primary education.

With the aim of addressing the different potentialities and challenges, this seminar was held on Wednesday, April 29th at the Anacleto Angelini Innovation Center of the Catholic University, with the collaboration of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Sport.

Physical activity and overall well-being

Citing the iconic phrase of the poet Juvenal, “healthy body, healthy mind”, the dean of the Faculty of Education, Alejandro Carrasco, began the day by highlighting the importance of promoting a balanced development in the different dimensions of the human being.

“From an educational perspective, physical activity is fundamental because it has effects on mental and emotional health,” she noted, adding that international evidence also shows its impact on motor and social development and academic performance.

Obesity and overweight epidemic

According to a 2025 UNICEF report, 27% of children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 19 in Chile are obese. Regarding this alarming reality, Dr. Giovanni Escalante, representative of the Pan American Health Organization and the WHO in Chile, emphasized the importance of the new legislation, calling it a milestone for the region.

“The importance of promoting spaces for children and young people to move and be active is being recognized. And that is an example for Latin America,” he stated.

Similarly, the Undersecretary of Public Health, Alejandra Pizarro, emphasized the need to address sedentary lifestyles from the school stage, stressing that the law would not only imply more time dedicated to physical activity, but also a cultural transformation.

“The habits we promote today in school-age children are ultimately what will impact the quality of life of the population in the coming decades,” he said.

From evidence to implementation in schools

One of the central themes of the seminar was understanding the implementation of the law from a comprehensive perspective. Within this framework, Dr. Marcia Erazo, head of the Healthy Public Policies and Promotion Division of the Ministry of Health, explained the foundations that gave rise to Law 21.778, highlighting the complex national scenario, where sedentary lifestyles affect nearly 90% of the population and are directly linked to the development of non-communicable diseases.

She also stressed the urgency of intervening from childhood, a key stage in the formation of habits, and explained that the goal of 60 minutes a day responds to international recommendations, considering that currently only 23,5% of the population meets this standard.

From the Physical Activity Unit of the Ministry of Education, Daniela Ríos and Patricio Venegas emphasized that, although the law originates from the health sector, its implementation falls directly on the education system. Therefore, the challenge lies in how, when, and where to put this public policy into practice during the school day, understanding that it is not an isolated measure, but a strategy that must be coordinated with other regulations, such as the school coexistence law and the law that regulates the use of mobile devices in educational establishments.

For her part, Macarena Yancovic, head of the Master's Program in Education at UC and a curriculum specialist, stated that one of the main challenges of the law is that it involves not only the Physical Education subject, but the entire school community. Along these lines, she focused her presentation on the concept of "active classrooms," emphasizing that, to move towards a holistic education, it is necessary to place students at the center of the process, involving them in action, reflection, and interaction.

In contrast to traditional models characterized by passivity and sedentary behavior, she emphasized that incorporating movement into the classroom not only promotes learning but also improves attention, emotional well-being, and participation. In this regard, she stressed that "every minute of intentional movement in the classroom is a public health intervention."

Along the same lines, Fernando Concha and Claudio Farías Valenzuela presented the results of the FONDEF project “Healthier Schools,” an initiative led by the University of Santiago in conjunction with the University of Development. The project implemented interventions in educational establishments, including active breaks, redesigned physical education classes, integration of healthy living content into various subjects, and improvements to the school food environment. These actions resulted in increased levels of physical activity, reduced sedentary behavior, and changes in students' eating habits.

Towards a cultural change in schools

Overall, the presentations agreed that the implementation of the law requires not only technical or curricular adjustments, but also a profound cultural change, aimed at transforming habits and conceptions about the integral well-being of people.

In this context, the seminar positioned itself as a key space to provide analytical tools and highlight the urgency of addressing the serious problem of obesity and sedentary lifestyles in the country, as well as to recognize different strategies for incorporating movement into daily school activities and promoting healthy lifestyles.

Watch the full seminar on the UC Faculty of Education YouTube channel or at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufeKs1grQPs&t=9539s