Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, Zizi Kodwa, has called for the inclusion of sports in the school curriculum. Kodwa made these remarks on Sunday as he reflected on the recently concluded National School Sport Indaba.
School sport is the bedrock of sport development in the country. School sport and physical education are contained in the National Development Plan and are integral to development in the country.
The event brought together leaders and administrators from the sports realm, representatives from the education sector, international experts, government officials, former players, and sport sector activists, all gathering under the theme: 'Towards an integrated and unified school sports system'.
The National School Sport indaba concluded on Friday, 15 September 2023, with a pledge by all stakeholders to work together to develop and implement a model for a sustainable school sport system in the country.
Kodwa emphasized that the event provided momentum for the creation of a blueprint for school sports in South Africa.
The indaba has set the path forward for government, the sport and education sectors, and commercial, community and civil society partners to work together towards building a sustainable national school sport programme.
He says the event placed a spotlight on a novel theory of change, recognizing the imperative to surmount any barriers obstructing an inclusive, accessible, and high-quality school sports system in the nation.
Local, and international stakeholders also shared experiences and perspectives of developing school sport and integrating sport into community development.
The Indaba came to the following resolutions:
- Policy: To give effect to the collaboration agreement between the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and the Department of Basic Education through robust implementation, formal plans and monitoring of the agreement through formal practices.
- Resources: To advocate for the building of school-based sports facilities that are aligned to the broader community spatial design, to optimise the use of currently available school facilities, and encourage private public partnerships through a suitable model, which is to be investigated.
- Development pathway: Focus on getting children playing regularly. School sport must be educator-driven and build capacity across all role-players in the ecosystem through formal training programmes. Physical education should be introduced as a stand-alone subject.
- Stakeholder relationships and structures: A national macro body for school sport, supported by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the Department of Basic Education, and the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc), should be established.
- Governance and transformation: Regulate the integration of the country’s fragmented school sport system.
Furthermore, the Minister also stressed that the indaba has set the path forward for Government, the sport and education sector, commercial, community and civil society partners to work together towards building a sustainable national school sport programme.
