The Department of Sports Development in Southern Province has welcomed the reintroduction of Physical Education, (PE) as a compulsory and examinable subject in schools starting in the 2010 academic year.
Southern Province Sport Development Coordinator, Gibson Muyaule, said re-introduction of PE in schools would promote positive and lifelong healthy attitudes in young people, increase their attendance in school and improve academic performance.
Mr. Muyaule said PE and sport, through its various attributes, could help children establish and strive to achieve personal goals and reduce stress levels especially among children living in troubled homes.
He however, bemoaned the lack of and poor state of sports infrastructure in schools, which he said would hinder the successful implementation of the well intended programme in schools.
Mr. Muyaule said this in a statement made available to ZANIS in Livingstone today.
He has since urged local authorities to ensure they allocated additional pieces of land to schools for sports facilities, saying this would empower them to implement PE programmes effectively.
He further said it was the duty of the local authorities, as planners, to provide adequate recreational and sports programmes to the communities they served.
Mr. Muyaule also called on school authorities to lobby government for trained Physical Education teachers to teach PE only as a single subject.
ZANIS/AMM/KSH/ENDS
This is great news I congratulate the government on this one. Sports stimulate the mind and keep you physically healthy.
Good move for this will lead children to performing well in sports than do things that lead to death and uselessness in society. I am sure it will lay a ground for gold medal winners.
PE how can I forget that subject!! We were asked to put on white shorts and then went to a play ground full of dirt. hope things have changed by now.
they should introduce PE in college and University.this will help the country develop in sports.Russia has this mechanism and all can see the results at international sporting invents.all we need is to develop our infrastructure.
Why did they stop it in the first place?
It would be more like Physical Endangerment if those kids are not fed before doing calisthenics and frog jumps or at least be given something to drink. Imagine a workout and nothing to eat afterwards.
Well done , but the Govt must build sports academies were talented students can learn about sports and other subjects as well. Just look at what the Americans have done. The Chineese have done the same thing and are now one of the top in the world of sport, The Ethiopiansand Kenyans are also doing it.
I remember in my days , we used to have inter schools competions, schools from all over lusaka would compete. I dont know if they still have the same thing now.
Its a lost opportunity that ministry of education neglected PE in schools. I remember during my school days during the 70;s & 80’s we had some friends who were below avaerage in class work but made it in sports. End of the day we were able to balance up as students.
There is something crazy with our authorities. Do we need the entire Head of State to reactivte PE in schools. In some places in Lusaka play grounds have been turned into play grounds by politicains and council employees. Auther Wina Basic school in Chilenje South is good example.