PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORTS IN SCHOOLS (Adequacy of guidelines and safety measures)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Dr Ong Chit Chung asked the Minister for Education, in view of recent incidents, whether the guidelines and safety measures adopted for physical education and sports in schools are adequate.

The Senior Minister of State for Education (Dr Tay Eng Soon) (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am answering on behalf of my Minister.

The Ministry of Education shares the same concern with Dr Ong Chit Chung, Member for Bukit Batok, on accidents involving our school children during physical education and sports activities.

However, the Ministry of Education would like to reassure parents that guidelines and safety measures adopted for physical education and sports in schools are adequate. These are reflected in great detail in various documents such as (1) The Principals' Handbook, (2) The Handbook on School Sports, (3) Prevention and the First Aid Treatment of Medical Problems in Sports, and (4) Safety in School.

Seminars are conducted for sports secretaries and other key school personnel by the Singapore Sports Council and the Training and Health Education Department of the Ministry of Health to explain the importance of safety in sports as outlined in these handbooks.

Schools have also been given a list of names by the School Health Service Department of the Institute of Health of students with medical problems who should refrain from participation in competitive games, physical fitness test and physical education lessons.

The Ministry of Education constantly reminds schools of the need for safety in all physical education and sports activities through regular meetings and workshops. The Ministry also disseminates, on a regular basis, useful articles related to safety in physical education and sports. In recent years, physical education and sports equipment and facilities have also been upgraded with safety of students as a main consideration. The provision of synthetic rubberised running tracks and the use of sponge balls and plastic bats are examples.

We will continue to monitor and review our guidelines and safety measures as and when necessary.

Dr Ong Chit Chung (Bukit Batok): Sir, I would like to ask the Minister whether the Ministry keeps track of such incidents systematically so as to monitor the trend and take any remedial action, when necessary, and whether the teachers would routinely or systematically ask students if they have any specific medical problem or they are feeling unwell on a particular day. I would also like to ask whether the Ministry is training teachers or has trained teachers to provide emergency aid or measures when necessary.

Dr Tay Eng Soon: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry keeps track of all incidents and accidents that may happen in school from time to time and reviews these occasions and makes recommendations for improvement on safety. As for pupils who are not well on certain days when there are physical education exercises, they do report to the school authorities and to the physical education teachers and if they have medical certificates to show that they cannot take part in certain vigorous activities they are exempted from these activities.

Finally, it is part of the physical education training programme for physical education teachers that safety in sports and games is in the curriculum so that when they become teachers in schools they are familiar with the precautions that have to be observed.