According to a new report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO, majority of the world’s schoolchildren still do not have access to the minimum required physical education.Â
A statement issued by the organization on Wednesday 24 July, indicated that two-thirds of secondary school pupils and more than half of primary school pupils worldwide do not get taught the minimum weekly amount of physical education.
The statement which added that two-thirds of pupils with disabilities are deprived of any physical education also revealed that a new UNESCO initiative aimed at sports educators to step up the fight against discrimination will be unveiled.
According to the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay who stated that the organization will present its results and recommendations to the Heads of State and Government at the Sports For Sustainable Development Summit organised by France and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in partnership with the French Development Agency (AFD) on Thursday 25 July at the Carrousel du Louvre, noted that that physical education offers many advantages.
“Physical education is a worthwhile investment: it not only improves pupils’ health, but also their academic performance and personal development. Yet it is still often treated as a lesser subject. UNESCO is calling on its 194 Member States to make it a priority subject and to allocate the necessary time, human resources and budget to it.
UNESCO recommends at least 2 hours of physical education per week at primary level and at least 3 hours at secondary level, for both boys and girls: targets that are far from being met by most countries, according to the report.” The statement read in parts.
