HEALTH SCHEMES IN SCHOOLS (Measures to test soundness)

Dr Kanwaljit Soin asked the Minister for Education (a) what measures are being taken to test the soundness of health schemes, eg, walking on stones, that are introduced in our schools; and (b) who bears the cost of such unproven ``health'' equipment or measures.

The Minister of State for Education (Dr Ker Sin Tze)(for the Minister for Education): Sir, several health schemes have been introduced in our schools by the Ministries of Health and Education. Among them are the Annual School Health Screening, Vision Care Programme, Anti-Smoking Programme, the School Dental Service and the Trim and Fit Programme. Officials from both Ministries monitor the progress and evaluate the effectiveness of the programmes regularly.

One primary school has recently introduced the "walking on stones" exercise to its pupils in the belief that the exercise could improve their physical well-being. The School Advisory Committee paid for the stone slabs used for the exercise. The Ministry has advised the school to be careful about introducing such unproven "health" practices.

Dr Kanwaljit Soin: Sir, would the Minister of State assure the House that any physical exercise programme introduced in schools in future will be under the supervision of trained PE teachers?

Dr Ker Sin Tze: We will certainly ask the PE teachers to pay attention to whatever exercise that will be carried out. I believe that in that primary school it involves the PE teacher there.

Mr Chia Shi Teck: Recently, there was a report that the physical fitness exercises were not what they should be, ie, they were not good. For example, the sit-up exercise is bad for the spinal chord. Why were the physical fitness exercises allowed for umpteen years until they recently found that those exercises were bad for health?

Dr Ker Sin Tze: I do not know which incident the Member is referring to. I will have to check with the Ministry to find out which incident the Member is referring to.

Mr Chia Shi Teck: The incident was reported in the SBC News.

Dr Ker Sin Tze: I will have to look into the details of the incident.

Mr Heng Chiang Meng: Sir, may I ask the Minister of State what is wrong with walking on stones to harden the soles?

Dr Ker Sin Tze: Like all exercises, "walking on stones" is one exercise that is meant to produce some effect in improving the health condition. So there is nothing wrong if there is no proof that it is harmful or ineffective.

Dr Kanwaljit Soin: But what about the opportunity cost lost? Because while the students are doing an ineffective exercise, they could be doing something that is effective.

Dr Ker Sin Tze: We are not sure that that is not an ineffective exercise.