| Wani Roslan |
THE rise of obesity, as well as lack of physical activity among children and adults, is becoming a major concern. According to the Global School Health Survey 2014, 17 per cent of teenagers, aged between 13 to 17 years, are obese, while other studies found that children and teens from five to 17, did not achieve the daily minimum of 60 minutes’ physical activity, as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
“If this trend is not curbed, children will become obese, resulting in non-communicable diseases such as respiratory problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and cancer,” said Roslin bin Suhailee, the Acting Assistant Director of the Co-Curriculum Education Department, yesterday at a ceremony to distribute fitness test equipment to 18 primary and secondary schools across the country.
A physical fitness test for teachers and students will be also implemented into the round of co-curricular activities for primary and secondary schools, in a bid to create health programmes and to address current challenges.
“‘Sihat dan Cergas’ (SDC) programmes for primary and secondary students have already been planned, and will strive to produce balanced and holistic students who excel in various fields, as well as being healthy physically, spiritually and emotionally ,” said Roslin.
Roslin bin Suhailee, Acting Assistant Director of Co-Curriculum Education of Ministry of Education, hands over physical fitness test equipment to a representative of one of the schools. – WANI ROSLAN
Debbie Yanti binti Abdul Ghani, a teacher at the Rataie Primary School in Temburong District, told the Bulletin that the fitness test equipment would enable physical education teachers to evaluate their students’ health and fitness levels.
Haji Mohd Ali bin Haji Zainal, the Deputy Principal (Administration) at Sayyidina Hasan Secondary School, said that the equipment would prove useful in identifying students who are less active, allowing schools to take appropriate action.
The presentation ceremony was organised by the Physical Unit of the Co-Curriculum Education Department, and held outside the Co-Curriculum Education Department building, in Kampong Perpindahan Lambak Kanan.
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