The Minister for Education Mr Filipe Bole has advised schools to strike a balance while weighing the importance of education against extracurricular activities particularly sports.
The advice came in the wake of a number of schools that are preparing themselves for the Coke Cola Championship this year.
The media is highlighting schools that are actively participating in competitions. Some of these schools are among those with poor examination results last year that the Ministry of Education is monitoring.
The Ministry does not condone poor performances because Government is investing heavily on education.
Furthermore, the Ministry understands that the time students spend in training is indicative of a lot of free time at their disposal. This spare time could be better utilised for remedial programmes and tutorial classes in schools.
School principals and teachers need to know that parents expect their children to pass examinations for better opportunities and anything else apart from that is secondary. Similarly Government expects students’ passes to be of quality in value.
For too long students have been used to bring glory to teachers for winning sports competitions with minimum benefits directed at the students. This practice and mentality has to stop.
Students need to be advised that winning medals in sports is good, but having a good education and a decent job is much better.
Principals and Teachers need to be reminded that the stand the Ministry has taken in transferring them for consistently poor performances in external examinations has already started and will remain enforced.
Minister for Education, National Heritage, Culture and Arts, Youth and Sports, Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment,
Mr Filipe Bole