The Portfolio Committees on Sport and Recreation and Basic Education have welcomed the decision to include South African Local Government Association (SALGA) into the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on school sport.
The committees on Tuesday said both departments have decided to include SALGA in the MoU that they signed in 2011, and the committees believe that this will create a positive relationship between schools and municipalities.
“… [This] will allow schools without facilities to utilise municipal facilities for school sport,” the committees said in a joint statement.
This followed a report presented by both departments on school sport, particularly physical education, on Tuesday.
“Both committees were impressed with the process that has been undertaken by the DBE [Department of Basic Education] to amend the Schools Act in order to incorporate testing for doping in sport at schools,” said the statement.
The committees also welcomed the suggestion for both departments to work together towards the training of teachers in sport coaching at sport focused schools.
It also welcomed the suggestion by DBE Deputy Minister Enver Surty to conduct a facility audit at all schools nationally to determine the resource capacity of all schools to accommodate the school sport programme.
“Both committees are of the view that the intra-school and inter-school competitions are very important for the successful implementation of the integrated schools sport framework.
“Therefore, the Department of Basic Education ought to lead in ensuring that the level of school sport is implemented effectively,” the statement said.
The committees also welcomed the formation of a joint committee comprising stakeholders from the Department of Sport and Recreation, Department of Basic Education, Department of Higher Education and Training, Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (Cathseta) and South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc).
The joint committee will look into a teachers’ development programme.
“The committees are also pleased with the proposal by Deputy Minister Surty to have a representative of sport and physical education at a district level, and is of the view that this will assist with the coordination of school sport programmes at that level.”
The committees have requested the Directors-General of both departments to prepare a presentation that will include the implementation of school sport programme and physical education for a quarterly forum of the DBE District Managers.
“Both committees believe that mandates without clear timeframes prolong the achievement of goals around the implementation of school sport programmes.” – SAnews.gov.za