GES reminds headteachers on physical education policy

Accra, Nov. 1 GNA - The Ghana Education Service (GES) has reminded heads of institutions who are not implementing the Director General's directive charging them to ensure the effective teaching of physical education to sit up to the responsibility.

The GES noted that head teachers who refuse to comply with the directive would face the appropriate sanctions of the service. Mr. Charles K Amusah, Schedule Officer, Basic Schools Sports, Greater Accra Region, who made the remarks in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, (GNA) said the service has observed that in recent times physical education as a subject was not being taught in most of the first and second cycle institutions.

He said reports indicated that in the basic schools, where teachers are expected to take the pupils out for practical physical education lessons, the periods are either used for other subjects or activities or children are left on their own to utilize the periods themselves. Mr. Amusah said in the second cycle institutions where most of the trained P.E instructors teach, the situation was not different.

" Some P.E teachers are, more often than not, instructed by school authorities to give out their P.E periods to satisfy their subject areas," he added.

In some cases the P.E teachers are compelled to concentrate on their second subjects at the expense of physical education, which was their major area.

He said numerous extra classes have over-taken the afternoon sporting activities, which used to exist in most institutions. The GES noted that physical education was an integral component of the school curriculum since it keeps the children focused and prepared their minds for effective academic work.

It also reminded heads that the policy of the GES on the teaching of physical education has not changed, rather measures were being taken to improve on the subject.

" The teaching and learning of physical education and organisation of sports is compulsory at all levels in all first and second cycle institutions and in this regards, programmes will be effectively monitored with immediate effect."

The GES urged all heads of institutions to co-operate and take note of the policy to see to its full implementation, adding that " this will help us produce physically, mentally, socially and morally balanced individuals that we need to develop our country."