THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) secured an assurance from the Department of Education (DepEd) that Physical Education (PE) would remain in the school curriculum.
PSC Chairman William Ramirez said on Thursday that he received a positive feedback from DepEd Secretary Leonor Magtolis-Briones on his call to retain PE in the curriculum of the national education system.
Ramirez sent Briones a position paper stressing the importance of PE in the overall education of the Filipino youth and nation building.
Briones personally replied to Ramirez and assured the PSC head that she “agrees with his stand and shall fight for the retention of PE in our schools.”
“PE is an important part of our children’s education. It is so important that I believe it should become a core subject,” Ramirez said.
The PSC and DepEd reaction resulted from a radio interview with a senator that PE and Home Economics risk being scrapped from the curriculum in the new normal that would result from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We have chosen to let the tide of negative criticism pass, believing that the comment was done with the best interest of other matters in mind and was not meant to minimize Physical Education,” Ramirez said in his position paper.
Ramirez said that “as head of the government’s sports agency, it is incumbent upon me to present our position on the issue.”
Below is the full text of Ramirez’s position paper on PE:
A sound mind and body for the future leaders of this nation
Mens sana in corpore sano
A sound mind in a sound body. These words hang in big, bold letters in the Philippine Sports Commission’s (PSC) gymnasium, reminding everyone how the two are inevitably intertwined. A healthy mind recognizes the benefits of a sound body. A sound body, supports and makes possible a sound mind. A reciprocal and complementary process that produces a well-rounded, healthy human being.
And therein anchored is my belief that Physical Education (PE) is important to the holistic education of our children. Its importance is such that I believe it should be a “core subject.”
Leading and credible medical authorities and journals agree on this fact, that the lack of physical activity is a major risk factor in chronic diseases.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says that “physical activity contributes to normal growth and development, reduces the risk of several chronic diseases, and helps people function better throughout the day and sleep better at night. Even short bouts of physical activity can improve health and wellness.”
The Johns Hopkins Medical web site also informs that lack of physical activity can add to feelings of anxiety and depression.
A 2008 study published by trusted medical journal The Lancet claims that physical inactivity is as bad as smoking.
There are so many credible studies which gives us a picture of where physical activity stand in the whole scheme of having a healthy citizenry, and yet we are now at the crossroads of choosing whether to heed it or ignore these altogether.
As the privilege of leading the government’s agency on amateur sports rests on my 70-year-old shoulders, I put forward a voice that highlights the importance of physical activity, movement or PE in the holistic growth of our children. Physical Education is a vital part of their well-rounded education.
It is a fundamental right of the youth, alongside food, shelter and education. Article 31 of the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of a Child mentions right to play as one of the fundamental rights of a child. Play and movement helps children develop better mentally, physically, emotionally and academically.
If we love our children and value the quality of their future, then we must also recognize that PE is an important part of their education. It is so important that it is part of our constitution and is one of the major moving forces behind Republic Act 6847.
The most basic forms of physical activities such as walking, running and jumping require very little to engage in. Let us not use “lack of resources” as a reason to minimize the importance of physical activity in the life of our children or the positive impact of PE in their education.
PE should be made a core subject. The Sports strand should become as practical an option as STEM, HUMMS GAS and ABM. Why?
- If we have a robust and healthy youth, we will have a more productive citizenry, and more hope for a better country
- If PE is a major part of education, then transformation of a child is possible. The push of “enlightened education” recognizes the holistic development of a child, leaving not one aspect of humanity in consideration of a few.
- Science has proven that exercise/play/movement are the best forms of therapy for many diseases. A good consideration especially in this time of Covid-19
- When a person moves the neurotransmitters are activated and improves the brain
- We lessen financial compromise since healthy people do not put additional economic strain on the nation, as we are seeing now
- Studies have shown the direct correlation of physical activity to good bodily health, a more alert brain, a better deposition which helps to them be more receptive to learning
Each child must become PE-literate.
If all the reasons above fail to convince us that we must recognize the importance of PE and push for more integration of it in the country’s education system then let us just consider one fact—our children are the future of this country. The nation’s decision-makers must make PE part of its priorities and get a head-start in preparing our future leaders become strong, wise men and women who shall steer the course of an equally strong and secure Philippines.