From next year, students in both primary and secondary schools must take up at least one sport, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
He said an ad hoc committee would also be established to study the matter of issuing credit points to students who participate in sports.
"Presently co-curriculum activities have been made mandatory. However, taking up at least one sport has not been given the needed emphasis.
"We want to inculcate the sports culture in schools, and revert to schools being the main breeding ground for sports talents," he told reporters after closing the Pahang Umno convention, in Bandar Jengka Saturday.
Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said studies would also be made to have sports held all year round in schools and not restricted to just the first two or three months of the school term.
He said the credit points or marks to be given was to alter parents' perception that sports was not a productive activity as compared to academic achievement.
"This year we will take the steps necessary to have the system in place an get it going next year," he said.
On Friday, Muhyiddin said the Cabinet Committee on Sports had outlined five important elements to restore sporting excellence in schools which would involve among others, a revamping of the arts, co-curriculum and sporting activities in primary and secondary schools. - Bernama.
I'm happy that the Minister is trying to make sports a lifestyle for both primary & secondary students. It's better late than never.
ReplyDeleteLet us hope that sports will last a lifetime in the school system rather than how long the specific Minister who proposed it last in their position.
We need radical sports-minded individuals who are all out to make Malaysia a sporting nation & not just follow the flow. Pro-active & go-getters. Many sports in Malaysia is in the decline as many parents & teachers are urging the students (children) to excel in studies (mind) & not in sports (body).
Children MUST have both to excel in the world today. Without which, they (children) will grow-up to be mind-strong but poor of health.
Let us all join together (NSA, SSA, parents, schools, public, ministry and / or corporate) support this cause to make it a workable idea for the future of sports in Malaysia.
Salam 1Malaysia.