PHYSICAL FITNESS OF STUDENTS (Improvement of)

Mr Ang Nam Piau asked the Minister for Home Affairs and Education, in order to raise the level of physical fitness of our students, if he will consider introducing compulsory mass Morning and Evening Physical Exercise in all Morning and Afternoon Primary and Secondary Schools.

The Minister of State for Education (Mr Chai Chong Yii) (for the Minister for Home Affairs and Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, daily mass callisthenics have been a requirement for all primary schools since 1974. Music has been prepared for these exercises and set movements have been developed. Not all schools, however, have been able to comply with the requirement because of limited space and play area. Secondary schools are not required to have mass callisthenics because of a more specialised physical education programme.