The national ‘Skip Be Fit’ Championships for secondary schools was launched yesterday and Chief Education Officer Olato Sam said it would provide an opportunity for students to be exposed to another dimension of physical education.
The Education Ministry’s Allied Arts Unit and Banks DIH Limited yesterday signed a $1.3 million Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation of the championships in schools this year.
Speaking at the signing at Thirst Park, Sam said ‘Skip Be Fit’ was initiated last year in Region 10. “That was the impetus for us expanding it to the national level,” he said, while noting that the programme will provide a good opportunity for students at both primary and secondary levels to be exposed to another dimension of the Physical Education programme in schools. He added that there is tremendous scope for the competition and beyond the benefits of keeping fit it is hoped that within a few years students would have developed the necessary skills to participate at an international level.
Sam also noted that the programme has been added to the planned Mashramani activities for 2015 and expressed confidence that it will fit in with the physical display component of the Education Ministry’s planned activities for Mashramani.
Banks DIH Limited’s Sales and Marketing Executive Carlton Joao, who also spoke at the launch, said the company’s involvement stems from its commitment to the health and well-being of customers.
Further, he said Banks DIH advocates for youths to be allowed 60 minutes of exercise a day and to engage in activities such as walking, swimming or simply playing and having fun. Reflecting on his active childhood, Joao called on youths to be more active, instead of opting for social media and video games.
He said the ‘Skip Be Fit’ programme is comprehensive and Banks will be playing a significant part to ensure that it can facilitate its implementation. The Coca Cola Brand has embraced it in a significant way, he added, while noting that it has come on board as the major sponsor.
Joao lauded the programme as phenomenal and said it should be encouraged. “These are things that we need to bring back, because it allows you engagement, it allows you to play and play is an important part of your life… don’t lose that opportunity to play and have fun,” he said.
Head of the Allied Arts Unit’s Physical Education Department Nicholas Fraser explained that two schools from each participating region will do demonstrations in the regional competition in February during Mashra-mani activities. He added that officials from Allied Arts Unit will visit and facilitate the effective execution of the programme and that winning schools from each region will then enter the nationals in May as part of independence celebrations.
Fraser pointed out that this year’s championships will see all gaining prizes, since it is the launching of the national programme. However, he said that the real competition will commence from next year.
Schools in attendance at the signing yesterday included Annandale Secondary, South Ruim-veldt Secondary and President’s College, all of which were presented with jump ropes and other items to aid in their preparation for this year’s championships.
