Press Releases
Active Schools
5 Oct 2004
SPARC has welcomed the Minister of Education's announcement today that physical activity is to be given a greater priority in schools.
SPARC's Chief Executive, Nick Hill, was commenting on the Minister's proposal to change education regulations as they relate to the prioritisation of physical activity in schools.
"This announcement is supported by SPARC's Active Schools initiative and will see tangible benefits flowing from increased physical activity levels among school kids.
"It's a lamentable fact that Kiwi kids are becoming less active and more obese at a faster rate than ever before. The implications of today's announcement will go some of the way toward arresting both of these issues," he says.
Nick Hill says the Active Schools initiative has been developed by SPARC over the past 12 months and will see SPARC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, providing schools with a range of support to meet the changes flagged by the Minister today.
"Active Schools is all about getting more Kiwi kids more active more often. This isn't about asking schools to do more with less. Our side of the equation is to provide more resources for primary schools to ensure kids get off the couch. We'll also be working with schools and colleges of education to lift teachers' skill base, and improve teachers' confidence to teach physical activity in the first place. Community partnerships are also being promoted.
"This is about long-term investment. Active Schools isn't a fly-by-night initiative. We're here for the long-haul and we'll be making investment decisions that reflect this. Teachers aren't on their own," he says.
Nick Hill says SPARC will work with the Education and Health Ministries to ensure schools and the teachers charged with implementing these changes have high quality support.
He says the Active Schools initiative has been developed using a strengths-based approach targeting the barriers and enablers to physical activity in and around school communities.
"Active Schools aims to increase awareness, skills and education regarding quality physical activity and physical education within school communities to enhance student physical activity and overall wellbeing," he says.
Nick Hill says the support and promotion of physical activity in schools was also one of the three key recommendations from SPARC's Talent ID and Development Task Force.
Former Olympic Chef de Mission Sir Ronald Scott who chaired SPARC's Talent ID and Development Task Force has voiced his support for today's announcement and the Active Schools initiative.
"While the prime objective of the Minister's initiative is health related, which I applaud, I'm also predicting there will be major benefits in the sports sector. In fact, I'd go so far as to say I believe this is a windfall for sport.
"It means all New Zealanders will be equipped with essential early basic skills and will have the confidence to go on to be adult participants whether their preference is recreational or more serious.
"As a consequence, and provided there is an effective development system, there will be more New Zealanders who will progress to be achievers at the highest levels.
"This is precisely what the TID Task Force recommended as a priority if this small nation is to compete up to its potential at World and Olympic levels. In due course it should translate into more medals," he says.
View Active Schools Current Strategies document (pdf).
Updated | 30 Mar 2006.
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