Question NW2156 to the Minister of Basic Education

Reply:

1. Yes, Physical Education forms part of the CAPS Life Skills / Life Orientation curriculum.
2. (a)Physical education is mandatory for all learners in public ordinary schools.

(b) (i) Fixed time allocation is prescribed for Physical Education for each phase. The table below represents the time allocation per phase:

GRADES	TIME ALLOCATION PER WEEK
Gr R – 3	2 hours
Gr 4 – 6	1 hour
Gr 7 – 9	1 hour
Gr 10 - 12	hour

(ii) The structure of Physical Education in each phase is as follows:

• The CAPS Life Skills/Life Orientation clearly indicates that Physical Education is one of the core topics to be taught in all schools.
• The sub-topics and content is specified for each grade.
• The content for Physical Education across the phases relates to each other.
• Each phase focuses on similar areas of skills, knowledge and values and prepares learners to continue with the subject in other grades – thus ensuring continuity.
• All physical education periods will focus on practical physical and mass participation in movement activities for enjoyment and enrichment purposes.
• The Physical Education Task (PET) is administered across all fours school terms in all grades.
• Learner participation and movement performance in the PET will be assessed and reported at the end of each term. The focus of assessment falls into two broad categories viz: participation and movement.

The tables below highlight the topics/focus area for Physical Education in each of the grades/phases:

TABLE 1

FOUNDATION PHASE: Grades R - 3

Focus area: Locomotion Perceptual motor Rhythm Co-ordination Balance Spatial Orientation Laterality Sports and Games

Play, movement, games and sports contribute to developing positive attitudes and values. This area focuses on perceptual and locomotor development, rhythm, balance and laterality. The focus in the Foundation Phase is on games and some activities that will form the basis of participating in sports later on.

TABLE 2

INTERMEDIATE PHASE: Grades 4 – 6 The following are the focus in the intermediate phase
GR 4	GR 5	GR 6
Movement	Movement	Physical fitness
Invasion games	Target games	Striking and fielding games
Rhythmic movement	Rhythmic movement	Rhythmic patterns of movement
Basic field/track & swimming activities	Variety of field, track and swimming activities	Refined sequences through gymnastics or swimming activities
Safety issues	Safety issues	Safety issues

TABLE 3

SENIOR PHASE: Grades 7 – 9 The following are the focus in the intermediate phase:
GR 7	GR 8	GR 9
Fitness programme	Physical activities that promotes fitness	Improvement of physical wellness level
Indigenous games	Target games	Develop game plan for individual or team sports
Sequence to physical activities	Programme to improve movement techniques	Refines own and peer performance in movement
Outdoor recreational programmes	Outdoor recreational activity	Outdoor recreational activities
Safety issues	Safety issues	Safety issue

TABLE 4

FURTHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING: Grades 10 - 12 The following are the focus in the intermediate phase:
GR 10	GR 11	GR 12
Physical fitness programme	Personal level of fitness and health	Personal fitness and health goals
Skills in playground / community or indigenous games	Umpiring / leadership skills	Long term engagement in traditional /non-traditional sports/indigenous games/recreational activities
Environmentally responsible - outdoor recreational group/individual activities	Leadership roles in recreational group activity
Skills in traditional / non- traditional sports	Umpiring and leadership skills in self-designed and modified sports
	Safety issues

1. Whether the School Sport Policy has been finalized; if not why not and when will the policy be finalized; if so (a) when the policy will be gazette and (b) what are the details of her plan to achieve implementation of the policy

REPLY

Yes, the School Sport Policy has been presented to and approved by the Council of Education Ministers (CEM).

(a) The process to have the Policy gazetted has been initiated and will be finalised within this current financial year.

(b) The plan to deliver the school sport programme as per policy is embedded in the Integrated School Sport programme and Sport and Recreation Plan. The three levels of the School Sport Programme, that is: intra- school, inter-school and local/circuit festivals are currently being implemented. These provide the platform for participation at the district and provincial levels, culminating at the national championships.