M'SIA:MINISTRY TO REVIEW STATUS OF SPORTS IN SCHOOLS

KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 (Bernama) -- The Education Ministry will study the
issue of sports as a co-curricular activity in schools with the aim of producing
fit and healthy students.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Education
Minister, said sports development in schools of late received little attention,
especially from parents.

"I think we might be missing something very important in life. Sports is for
health, fun and bonding," he said at the handing-over of RM200,000 the proceeds
from the TSM Charity Golf, to 20 welfare bodies from all over the country, here,
Sunday.

Therefore, he hoped parents would agree with his move to review the
curriculum and co-curricular activities in schools, so that the students would
not only be intelligent and knowledgeable but also active and healthy.

Muhyiddin said he did not want the country's education system to focus only
on books and obtaining excellent examination results.


"The students must also be active and alert, so they must take part in
sports and other co-curricular activities that we emphasise on."

Muhyiddin said he observed that during his school days, Sports Day was a
merry and much anticipated occasion compared to now.

"The whole town seemed to be participating directly or indirectly but now,
we don't see it anymore.

"So I was thinking, as the Minister of Education, I want to make sports like
what it used to be in schools."

He said in the United Kingdom, for instance, the education system there
required students to be involved in at least two types of sports.


Muhyiddin said he had discussed the matter with director-general of
Education Alimuddin Md Dom, who raised the problems of the lack of fields
and sports teachers.

He, however, said that as 80 per cent of the school teachers were women, an
incentive would be introduced to attract more men to join the teaching
profession.

"But this does not mean that I am belittling the capability of female
teachers but the fact is, we do need more male teachers," he added.


-- BERNAMA