KUALA LUMPUR (March 17, 2010): The Education Ministry wants to incorporate sports as a subject within the school formal timetable soon. "We’re looking into the (current) timetable we have today and (we’re looking at) how we can fit (sports) into it. But of course in some cases, the students do come back to school to practice and participate in school sports but we hope to integrate it into the syllabus," said Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today.
Speaking to reporters after chairing the development of sports in schools meeting, Muhyiddin said the ministry hopes to decrease the burden of students and parents by incorporating the subject into the current timetable.
He, however, said that the inclusion of this subject will not compromise the academic aspects.
"I don’t want parents to say that we compromise academic performance to excel. We want students to excel both in sports and academic (aspects)," said Muhyiddin.
Currently, primary schools have 60 minutes of physical education (PE) a week while secondary schools have 80 minutes a week.
It is also understood that the PE subject in school will not be replaced with the introduction of sports as a subject.
Muhyiddin said the ministry is looking to introduce 60 minutes of sports a week for primary schools and 90 minutes for secondary schools.
"That’s the minimum but it’s up to the schools. We will give clear guidelines on how this can be implemented in schools," said Muhyiddin.
Asked if schools will have longer sessions once the subject is implemented, Muhyiddin said: "We don’t hope so. We want it to be incorporated within the same time."
Meanwhile, when asked if the ministry will introduce sex education in schools, Muhyiddin, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister said the ministry has not decided on the matter.
"I suggest a committee with experts in the field of sex education and biology can be formed and they can look at examples of countries that have sex education in schools," he said.
He said that while the issue has been discussed by many parties, the ministry was yet to decide on the matter as "it must be thought through."
"We have to take into account views of many parties before deciding on this," he said adding that the committee will be formed soon. -- theSun
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