1Student 1Sport: Ministry to appoint state facilitators to train teachers
Tuesday, February 15th, 2011 08:42:00
MURALEEDHARAN: Policy is not a one-off thing
The plan, expected to be executed this year, seeks to address the shortage of specialised sports teachers in schools before implementing its policy of having every student take part in at least one sport.
Each sport will have at least four facilitators at state level who will help train the teachers, said assistant director of the Education Ministry's sports division V. Muraleedharan.
“There are some teachers who are well-versed in certain sports. We will gather the best of the lot, four to five for each sport in every state, and appoint them as facilitators.
“Many tasked to teach sports don’t have the basic knowledge. To ensure the 1M1S policy is a success, it is important they are able to teach the students.”
Handbooks with training modules for teachers are being produced by the ministry and are expected to be ready for distribution by next month. Training institutes are also being planned and will be established next year or the year after.
“We want to make the 1M1S policy a long-term programme. It’s not going to be a one-off thing,” said Muraleedharan.
The 1M1S policy was announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin last year and implemented at all schools this year.
The aim is to produce students who excel both academically and in co-curricular activities and, at the same time, promote a healthy lifestyle.
Schools have been instructed to organise sports activities all-year round.
“We have also instructed schools to hold their annual sports day from June onwards from now on. Students will not only have more time to prepare for their sports but will have constant involvement in sports throughout the year,” Muraleedharan said.
Ministry officials from the Sports Division are, in the meantime, visiting schools to monitor the progress of the 1M1S policy.
“The schools are bound to experience adjustment problems as it is the first year. So, we go down to the ground to meet principals and teachers to find out what their difficulties are.”
Among the common challenges faced by schools is the lack of facilities such as fields, courts and sports equipment.
“I’m pleased with the response from parents and teachers towards the policy so far. Some schools, although faced by challenges, are creative in tackling their shortcomings," said Muraleedharan.
"Parents-teachers associations have also been helpful and willing to lend a helping hand by donating sports equipment.
“We hope to overcome these challenges, and by next year, we should be able to go full swing. What’s important is this policy is here to stay.”
No child left behind at SMK Kepong Baru
LIFE'S A BALL: Students playing basketball in the school's court
KUALA LUMPUR: "It’s like a carnival now!"
That was how SMK Kepong Baru Form One student Mohd Iskandar Hussin described sports practice at school this year, following the implementation of the 1M1S policy.
“All my classmates and students from other classes are involved in sports. There are so many teammates in my basketball group. Sports practice just became more 'happening'!” he told The Malay Mail during a recent visit to the school.
With 2,933 students, SMK Kepong Baru is one the most populated schools in the city, so its administrators added two new sport houses to the existing four.
“By adding more sport houses, more students will be involved in different events during sports day,” said school principal Leong Kun Loy. “No one gets left out.”
The school had also planned sports activities throughout the year as well as during the end-of-year school holidays.
“In February, we have the inter-house cross country competition. Our annual sports meet will be held in June and in August we will have the inter-class sports competition. At the end of October, there will be a sports competition for students who would have completed their PMR examinations,” Leong said.
“We will also organise sports camps during the school holidays in November. Even for the June sports meet, students begin training as early as March.”
Form Three and Form Five students who are sitting for public examinations will be allowed to stop sports activities by August.
“We understand exam year students need the time to focus but it is important to have a balance between academic and extra-curricular activities, which is the purpose of this policy."
Leong said some parents, however, were concerned about clashes with tuition classes.
“I tell them activities organised by schools are more important, so they need to adjust. After all, it’s only two hours once a week.”
Form Two student Loo Poh Yin told The Paper That Cares on days with sports practices, her tuition classes start at night.
“It's fun to play sports. I know how to divide my time, so I don’t think it is troublesome,” said Poh Yin, who takes up basketball.
Muhamad Tarmizi Nor, the school’s chief sports teacher, said the 1M1S policy made it easier for him to unearth hidden talents.
“Last time, only those interested in sports would take part in. Now, with everyone’s involvement, you discover talented students.”
All's well at Maxwell's
GAME ON: Pupils playing badminton without a net... or court
A recent visit by The Malay Mail at the near-century old school saw how, during sports practice, students tied raffia strings across two makeshift poles as an improvised badminton net.
Some were also seen playing badminton without nets at all — but they didn’t appear to be troubled by it, judging from their smiles.
A group were seen crossing a busy road to get to a public sports court. The public volleyball, basketball and futsal court just outside the school belongs to City Hall but the school was granted permission to use the facilities.
As for football, a favourite among the boys, it is played at a field belonging to Tamil school SJK Sri Dhandayuthapani in Jalan Ipoh — an 800m walk from SMK Maxwell.
“I had to ask permission from the school headmaster, who was kind enough to allow our boys to play there,” said SMK Maxwell’s senior assistant of co-curriculum M. Silvaratnam.
“Since they are a primary school and only have morning sessions, they allowed us to use the field in the afternoon."
Silvaratnam had also negotiated with a bowling centre at nearby mall Mutiara Complex for a cheaper rate.
Silvaratnam credited the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), headed by Shafiee Ibrahim, and the Maxwell School Old Boys’ Association, for their understanding and generousity.
“We received donations from them to upgrade our sports equipment. One parent recently donated four ping pong tables,” he said.
“We also plan to hire sports coaches to help train our teachers and the PTA agreed to help pay them.
“The spirit of the students, teachers and parents is strong in this school. Whatever shortcomings we face, we find ways to overcome it.”
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