The National Physical Education and Sports Workshop for Primary School Head Teachers and Physical Education Teachers

Abstract

Uganda has developed a broad policy objective of developing physical education and sports to create a healthy, united democratic and productive nation through physical activities and sports. A policy on physical education and sports is now in place and the major thrusts are:- i) To improve planning, management and coordination of sports in the country ii) To improve and sustain physical education through formal and non-formal programmes iii) To identify talents in games and sports among children and youth both at school and those out of school for further training and specialisation. iv) To promote and sustain Uganda's participation in regional and international games and sporting events as a measure to serving, relating and cooperating. Government allocates resources for physical education and sports in the education system. This is to meet the above objectives but most important to address issues related to health, culture, social cohesion and harmony among the communities.¹ Further more, the Ministry of Education and Sports appreciates the contribution of physical education in enhancing retention and completion rates in school. It has therefore committed itself to revitalise and institutionalise it in the school system by: i) Issuing guidelines on physical education and sports in schools. ii) Providing and distributing basic equipments e.g. footballs, netballs to schools. iii) Using school capitation grants funds to procure materials and ensure proper storage. iv) Ensuring that Physical Education is allocated time and taught on the school time table. v) Enforcing minimum standards and basic requirements for schools regarding sports vi) Adapting and modifying physical education programmes for learners with special needs and provide appropriate equipment to these children. vii) Encouraging competitions within schools, districts and nationally, and other sports events e.g. sports days.2 While these initiatives are aimed at mainstreaming physical education and sports in all primary and secondary schools, physical education and sports have not been visibly activated in the schools thus its low status. The status of Physical Education and Sports (PE&S) in Ugandan schools is very low. Most head teachers in primary and secondary schools as well as parents emphasise academic excellence and production of "best" students in the national examinations at the expense of physical education and sports which is a non-examinable subject. As a result physical education and sports is rarely taught in schools, though, it is in the curriculum and time table.