The Portfolio Committees on Sport and Recreation and Basic Education are happy with the report presented by the Departments of Sport and Recreation and Basic Education on school sport, particularly physical education. Both Committees were impressed with the process that has been undertaken by the Department of Basic Education to amend the Schools Act in order to incorporate testing for doping in sport at schools.
The Committees welcome the decision by both departments to look into the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on school sport, which was signed in 2011, to include a role by the South African Local Government Association (SALGA). The Committees believe that the inclusion of SALGA in the MOU will create a positive relationship between schools and municipalities which will allow schools without facilities to utilise municipal facilities for school sport.
The Committees also welcomed the suggestion for both departments to work together towards the training of teachers in sport coaching at sport focused schools to better support the school sport programme. Both Committees were also pleased and welcomed the suggestion by the Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Mr 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 Committees welcome 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, CATHSETA and SASCOC. This joint committee will look into a teachers development programme. The Committee is also pleased with the proposal by Mr Surty to have a representative of sport and physical education at a district level. The Committee is of the view that this will assist with the coordination of school sport programmes at that level.
The Committees have requested the Director-Generals of both the Department of Basic Education and Sport and Recreation to prepare a presentation that will include the implementation of school sport programme and physical education for a quarterly forum of the Department of Basic Education District Managers.
Both Committees believe that mandates without clear timeframes prolong the achievement of goals around the implementation of school sport programmes.
Enquiries:
Faith Kwaza
Tel: 021 403 8062
Cell: 072 122 0371
E-mail: fkwaza@parliament.gov.za
