Sports in schools to become a must
The programme jointly initiated by the Ministries of Sports and Education, to make sports activities compulsory to all students across Sri Lanka, kick-started at provincial level. According to the Ministry of Sports, the programme was handed over to the respective Sports Ministers of all provinces with the aim of making it a success.
“The observations of the progress of this programme will be carried out by the respective provincial Ministers of Sports and their secretaries. This way there are possibilities of correcting if there are any shortfalls after implementation,” the sports ministry said.
The programme officially commenced last Monday at the Ministry of Sports premises in Torrington by updating all Ministers of Sports and their secretaries from all provinces. This also includes the North and East provinces which joined the remaining seven mainstream and active provinces. Calculations reveal that over 40 million students across the island are registered at the Ministry of Education.
“The Ministry of Education alone cannot work to take up this gigantic task. So as the Ministry of Sports, it’s our duty to work in unison with them to come out with a comprehensive and effective long term plan,” the statement added.
The Ministry of Sports has allocated a sum of Rs. 500,000 to each school, which is not in a state to meet with the cost, as funds to develop its ground facilities. These funds will be made available to each school through its respective Schools Development Boards. In addition the Ministry of Sports will make plans to allocate Rs. 10 Million to develop selected grounds that come under Provincial Councils. Further, the Ministry of Sports has taken steps to divert the responsibilities on sports governing bodies that are inactive.
“This move will make those inactive sports governing bodies to open their eyes. And if they are still way behind, it will give us a clear picture on them. End of the day the progress reports provided to us by our provincial ministries will be essential to these sports bodies when allocating annual funds.”
The Minister of Sports, Mahindananda Aluthgamage met Provincial Ministers of Sports, Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon, Athula Rahubadda, Nimal Lanza, Weerasumana Weerasinghe, D.B. Herath and M.I.M. Mansoor who represented the Central, Sabaragamuwa, Western, Southern, North Western and Eastern provinces respectively.
The programme has been drafted with a long term vision, aiming at the Asian Youth Games 2017 which is set to be hosted in Sri Lanka.
Minister Aluthgamage went on to say that the programme will benefit Sports Teachers and Physical Training Instructors, who come under the Ministry of Education in many ways. The Ministry of Sports will take the responsibility in imparting them with the latest in sports science through their National Sports Science Unit.
“We will not stop there. Schools beginning from the Primary level to National and Central Colleges will benefit through this programme. Schools identified with minimum facilities will be provided with sports gear and other necessities. The ultimate aim through this programme is to win as much as medals at the Asian Youth Games 2017 in Hambantota, a top international event hosted by us,” the Minister stated.
According to the Secretary to the Ministry of Sports the meeting that took place last Monday. The Ministers of Sports at provincial level have pledged their support to make this programme a success. This initiative was the final result of a series of discussions held between the Ministries of Sports and Education since mid 2013. The combined Ministerial Paper gained Cabinet approval after it was produced at the Parliament.
The Ministry of Sports further stated that this systematical national programme is aimed at providing the required knowledge, guidance and training for the schoolchildren to uplift and improve their talents in sports.
“Their talents will be identified appropriately and will be directed to improve and develop talent accordingly. It has made compulsory that schoolchildren should engage in at least one sports activity. The two Ministries hope to work according to a national policy,” the Ministry of Sports said.