PHYSICAL EDUCATION PERIODS IN SCHOOLS

Mr Yeo Guat Kwang asked the Minister for Education whether his Ministry will consider increasing the number of periods for Physical Education in primary and secondary schools.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education (Mr Mohamad Maidin B P M) (for the Minister for Education): Sir, there are currently many demands on our formal curriculum time and there is a need to prioritise and strike a balance. At the moment, on a weekly basis, curriculum time allocated to PE at the different levels is as follows: Primary 1 - 4 : 3 periods (30 minutes per period) per week Primary 5 - 6 : 2 periods (30 minutes per period) per week Secondary 1 - 5 : 2 periods (35 minutes per period) per week Pre-University 1 - 3 : 3 periods (40 minutes per period) per week

The present allocation, in the view of MOE, is sufficient for schools to achieve the curricular objectives of PE, and that is to develop the physical, intellectual, social and emotional aspects of the pupils through physical activity. However, schools are given the autonomy to make adjustments to the curriculum time according to the needs of their pupils and the resources available. Indeed, some secondary schools have done so. For example, Commonwealth Secondary now has 4 PE periods for all their Normal (Technical) classes from Secondary 1 to 4 and 3 PE periods for the lower secondary Express/Normal (Academic).

The other examples are :

(1) Whitley Secondary which now has 3 PE periods for the upper secondary Normal (Technical) classes and lower secondary Express and Normal (Academic) classes.

(2) Pierce Secondary has 3 PE periods for the lower secondary Express and Normal (Academic) classes and 4 PE periods for the Secondary 1 Normal (Technical) classes.