Department of Basic Education	

and

				Sport and Recreation South Africa

DRAFT SCHOOL SPORT 
POLICY FOR SCHOOLS IN SOUTH AFRICA

REVISED

04 MARCH 2010

Department of Education					Sport and Recreation South Africa
Sol Plaatje House						Regent Place
123 Schoeman Street						66 Queen Street 
Private Bag X895						Private Bag X986
Pretoria, 0001 							Pretoria, 0001
South Africa							South Africa 
Tel: 012-312 5911						Tel: 012-304 5000
Fax: 012-321 6770						Fax: 012-323 2125

TABLE OF CONTENTS
        Page
1.	ACRONYMS	4	
2.	SCOPE AND PURPOSE	5	
3.	VISION 	5	
4.	MISSION	5	
5.	OBJECTIVES	6	
6.	POLICY STATEMENTS	7	
7.	PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING SCHOOL SPORT POLICY 	8	
8.	GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE AND FRAMEWORK	8	
9.	ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF STAKEHOLDERS	9	
10.	LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK	13	
11.	FUNDING	15	
12.	IMPLEMENTATION	16	
12.1	MONITORING AND EVALUATION	16	
12.2	GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE	16	
12.3	EFFECTIVE DATE OF APPLICATION	17	
	GLOSSARY OF TERMS	18	
	Annexure : A     Framework for the collaboration: coordination and management of school sport in public ordinary schools
Annexure: B      Proposed school sport landscape	

1.	ACRONYMS

DoBE	Department of Basic Education	
NACOC: 	National Coordinating Committee	
NCS	National Curriculum Statement	
NF	National Federation	
PED	Provincial Education Department	
PROSSO	Provincial School Sport Organisation	
PROCOC	Provincial Coordinating Committee	
PSRD	Provincial Sport and Recreation Department	
SASCOC	South African Sport Confederations Olympic Committee	
SASS0	South African Schools’ Sport Organization	
SASSO Codes	South African School Sport Organisation: Code	
SASSO Code Com.	South African School Sport Organisation: Code Committee	
SEP	School Enrichment Programmes	
SGB	School Governing Body	
SSMPP	School Sport Mass Participation Programme	
SMT	School Management Team	
SRSA
SSC
IQMS
LSEN
TID	Sport and Recreation South Africa
School Sport Codes
Integrated Quality Management System
Learners with Special Education Needs
Talent Identification and Development	

2.	SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF POLICY

 The school sport policy applies to all schools in the Republic of South Africa governed by the South   African Schools Act 84 of 1996. The purpose of this policy is to regulate the delivery of school sport for all learners, irrespective of ability, across all schools in an age-appropriate and/or grade appropriate way, based on the principle of equity and access. 

 The DoBE, SRSA, government sectors, recognised implementation agencies and relevant partners delivering school sport should adhere to this policy.

3.	VISION

A school sport environment that promotes healthy living and lifelong participation within a sporting culture.

4.	MISSION

a)	To organize an inclusive and integrated school sport programme that emanates from Physical Education. 

b)	To offer school sport programmes to all learners, irrespective of ability and to promote healthy life-practices, mutual respect and career opportunities.

c)	To promote sport through education and education through sport.

d)	To mobilize communities to strengthen the culture of learning and teaching in schools through their direct involvement in school sport activities.

e)	To promote school enrichment programs, through educational, recreational, based recreational and extramural school sport activities.

f)	          To promote participation and development of basic skills in different sport in  
          primary schools by all learners. 

g)	To create access to mass participation, competitive and high performance sport through the provision of talent identification opportunities.

h)	To ensure the application of a good code of conduct.

i)	To ensure the functionality of school sport codes.

j)	To establish and foster links between schools and community sport clubs. 

k)	To infuse social awareness messages and/or strategies with all relevant school sport 
activities.

5.	OBJECTIVES

1.	To use the school sport programmes to entrench the democratic values enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.

2.	To accelerate the transformation of society by addressing the past imbalances through quality school sport programmes. 

3.	To foster pride, honour and patriotism in our school-going youth through properly organised, managed and coordinated school sport programmes.

4.	To use school sport to develop functional and vibrant institutions of learning and centres of community life.

5.	To ensure and increase access to facilities and school sport programmes.

6.	To build and sustain the development of:

a)	all learners to participate in school sport programmes;
b)	educators, coaches, and community volunteers to deliver quality school sport programmes;
c)	schools to offer school sport programmes;
d)	infrastructure for school sport programmes; and 
e)	identified talented learners.

6.	POLICY STATEMENTS

a)	As an element of School Enrichment Programmes, School Sport is an integral component of the holistic education programme;

b)	School Sport, which flows out of Physical Education, provides the foundation for Community Sport.  Physical Education should be re-instated in school periods in order to promote the development of basic life and body skills; 

c)	Each school shall have a structured programme for recreational and educational sport. Relevant games and activities that promote play, recreation and mass participation in sport shall be identified, prioritised and implemented. Learners shall be accommodated to participate in these activities on an on-going basis; 

d)	Learners shall be encouraged to participate in the priority codes as determined by the NACOC for School Sport as well as in other activities of other sport codes;

e)	Jointly, the DoE, National Federation and SRSA shall provide teacher training programmes to ensure the delivery of School Sport with National Federation providing sport specific training;

f)	Jointly, the DoE and SRSA shall mobilise resources to ensure the provision of sport infrastructure and equipment for schools;

g)	Every school shall offer Physical Education as specified in the curriculum;

h)	School-based teachers shall form at least 70 percent of representation in the SASSO.

i)	School-based teachers shall form at least 70 percent of representation within each of the Codes;

j)	Every school shall be encouraged to participate in school sport leagues as a continuum for talent identification and further development;

k)	All participants in school sport shall abide by the principles underlying the school sport policy. 

l)	All learners must be water safe;

m)	Form partnership with the media to promote school sport;

n)	All SASCO sport codes should be recognised; 

o)	All schools must be encouraged to participate in the minimum of two codes of sport per quarter for boys and girls; and

p)	Inclusion in sport must be encouraged from inter – school level wherever possible. 

7.	PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING THE SCHOOL SPORT POLICY 

a)	For the strategic delivery of school sport programmes to succeed, deliberate and focused capacity building and continuous development programmes for educators must be designed and implemented. 

b)	Opportunities for participation in school sport shall be made available to all learners throughout the school year.

c)	School Sport forms part of the enrichment and extramural programmes offered by a school and as such provides continuous learning opportunities that seek to engage learners in activities that support and transfer applied competence from the curriculum context to the self sustainable development and communities.

Additional School Sport principles include: integrity, inclusivity, excellence, respect, fair play, quality delivery, professionalism, ethics, accessibility, capacity development and social cohesion, which include norms and values as enshrined in the constitution of the Republic of South Africa.

8.	GOVERNANCE AND CUSTODIANSHIP OF SCHOOL SPORT 

1.	Chapter 1 subsection 2. (1) of SASA (South African Schools’ Act), 1996 and 8.1 of the Framework for collaboration between DoE and SRSA and section 1 (preamble) of the National Sport and Recreation Amendment Act of 2007, which seeks to address the inequalities in sport and recreation in the Republic of South Africa, imply that the governance of school sport is a responsibility of the DBE and SRSA being responsible for giving logistical support to school sport programmes at provincial and national levels. SRSA will be responsible for the technical development of school codes, sports science and talent identification and development within codes with the support of federations.

9.	ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF STAKEHOLDERS

STAKEHOLDERS	ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES	
1.  SGB (School Governing Body)	•	Draw up the budget and provide for Physical Education and School Sport activities;
•	Maintain Physical Education and School Sport infrastructure;
•	Ensure that educators are supported to offer Physical Education and School Sport activities;
•	Participate in selecting and approving school sport codes in line with departmental priorities and with the consideration of needs and interests expressed by learners and parents.
•	Participate in the compilation of the individual School Sport policy and the School Sport implementation plan;
•	Support and monitor school sport activities;
•	Ensure the election of a sport committee at the school;
•	Take cognisance of diversity, promote social cohesion and inclusivity in an enabling environment; 
•	Source funding.
	
2.	Principal and the
     SMT (School Management Team)	•	Ensure that Physical Education is implemented within the curriculum
•	Ensure that the school sport policy and the school sport year plan / macro is developed and implemented;
•	Ensure that the school sport implementation plan is linked to the Physical Education implementation plan.
•	Use school sport as a vehicle for social cohesion;
•	Report to the SGB and Education department on school sport matters and activities;
•	Ensure that educators are supported in offering PE and  school sport activities;
•	Participate in the compilation of the individual school’s sport policy and the school sport plan; 
•	Determine the school’s sport programme and the calendar at school;
•	To form partnerships in order to develop school sport.
•	To compile a school extra – curricular time table with the sport committee that should be circulated to all parents / guardians per quarter.	
3.	School Sport 
Committee	•	Draft the school sport policy for the school;
•	 Draft the school sport calendar;
•	Coordinate the implementation of all school sport activities;
•	Recommend sport equipment and implements to be bought by the school;
•	Draft the budget for sport.	
4.	Educators	•	Implement school sport activities within the plan;
•	Support, nurture and progressively develop talent in learners;
•	Must avail themselves for extra-curricular activities in pursuance of IQMS performance standard 7.	
5.	PEDs 
      PSRDs with provincial federations giving technical support.

	Jointly:
•	Coordinate selections/trials; (clarify selecting structure)
•	Ensure implementation of school sport activities at all relevant levels;
•	Support, monitor, evaluate, report and review all school sport activities;
•	Support the school sport organisations;  
•	Support the implementation of relevant school enrichment programmes / school sport mass participation programmes;
•	Capacitate teachers involved in school sport;
•	Initiate and support talent identification, development and life skills programs and events at relevant levels level;
•	Represent provincial government at NACOC for School Sport
PSRD (supported by PEDs) 
•	Provide access to coach education, sports administration and technical officiating training for educators and volunteers;
•	Support all high performing athletes at relevant levels;
PDE
•	Ensure implementation of intra-school, inter-school, extra-curricular, extra-mural and co-curricular activities;
	
6.  DoE & SRSA 	Jointly:
•	Ensure successful implementation of intra-school, inter-school, extra-curricular, extra-mural and       co-curricular activities; 
•	Coordinate national events with the SASSO
•	Facilitate the development and implementation of the school sport policy on an ongoing basis;
•	Support, monitor, evaluate, report and review school sport activities;
•	Facilitate the establishment, support and monitoring of school sport structures;   
•	Promote the professional development of educators in sport;
•	Fund school sport and capacity building programmes;
•	Facilitate the development of a national school sport calendar with the national school sport organisation, including the printing and distribution thereof;
•	Assist with the development of school sport infrastructure;
•	Facilitate the collaboration between national school sport code committees  and federations;
•	Facilitate and support talent identification, recruitment, development and introduce life skill programs and events for high performing athletes at provincial and national levels;
•	Ensure that NFs support school sport structures to plan, manage and coordinate sport activities for all learners across the country; 
•	Develop an annual schedule of training and events;
•	Plan, fund, support, monitor, report and review school sport activities at provincial, national and international levels; and
•	Represent national government on the NACOC for School Sport.	
7.  Teacher Unions
     & SGBs	•	Form part of the monitoring and evaluation of school sport;
•	Form part of implementing decisions.
•	As individual organisations represent the relevant interest groups on the NACOC for School Sport.
•	To be part of structure of all levels of the development.	
8.	SASSO: Codes
	•	Seek associate membership with NFs;
•	Conduct elections once every two years;
•	SASSO: Codes will have representation at National and NF level; 
•	Organise national events in conjunction with NFs, DBE and SRSA;
•	Represent codes on the NACOC for School Sport; and 
•	Multi – disability (LSEN) to be included on all code committees.	
9.  NFs (National Federations)	•	Provide technical assistance and support to relevant SSCs;
•	Represent themselves on SASCOC, which in turn must represent the NFs on the NACOC for School Sport;
•	Provide technical support and jointly host national events with NACOC;
•	Delegate members to sit on school code committee;
•	Plan development, TID and competitions with SSCs;
•	Grant school codes the minimum of associate membership on executive committees depending on constitutions.	
10.  SASSO	•	Draft a national school sport calendar with codes and submit to NACOC for ratification;
•	Coordinate school sport activities;
•	Coordinate activities of Codes and PSSOs in conjunction with DBE and SRSA; 
•	Implement school sport activities;
•	Affiliate to international school sport organisations/ federations recognised by and through NACOC ;
•	Source funding to supplement school sport activities;
•	Represent itself and its affiliates on the NACOC for School Sport; 
•	Draft a constitution for approval by all stakeholders;
•	Implement the approved constitution;
•	Ensure that membership at all levels is constituted by at least 70% school based teachers.	
11.  NACOC	1)   NACOC is the School Sport Governing Body and its roles and responsibilities include: oversight, monitoring support and evaluation;
2)  NACOC is the highest decision making body of School Sport in South Africa;
3)    The members of NACOC are:
•	  DBE: Enablers of School Sport
•	  PEDs: Enablers of School Sport
•	  PSRDs: Enablers of School Sport 
•	  SASCOC: National custodians of sport at Federation level
•	  SASSO: Coordinators of School Sport
•	  SASSO – Codes: Implementers of School Sport
•	  SGBs: Monitors, supporters and Evaluators of their constituents within a School Sport context;
•	  SRSA: Enablers of School Sport
•	  Teacher Unions: Monitors, Supporters and Evaluators of their constituents within a School Sport context.
•	LSEN: Learners with special Education Needs.	
12. Sport SETA		

10.	LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK AND ALIGNMENT WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS

The Framework for collaboration: Coordination and Management of School Sport in Public ordinary Schools, signed on 17 March 2005 provides the platform for co-operative governance and administration, management and co-ordination as well as placement funding for school sport.   

Other documents which form part of the legislative framework are as follows:

a)	NCS (National Curriculum Statement) for Grades R-12 (2002-2003);

b)	South African Schools Act 1996 (Act no. 84), other education legislation, National Policies, and reports;

c)	Relevant agreements of the Education Labour Relations Council;

d)	Government Programme of action and Presidential Decrees; international protocols especially those on Children’s rights; and the Manifesto on Values, Education and Democracy;

e)	Government gazette vol.436,12 October 2001 No.22754 (Regulations for safety measures at public schools and Protocol on Events Involving Learners);

f)	Government gazette vol.497 10 November 2006 No.29376 (Amendment to Safety Measures at public schools);

g)	Public Finance Management Act No.1 of 1999;

h)	Division of Revenue Act; 2 of 2008;

i)	Government gazette No.110 of 4 Dec 1998 (The National Sport and Recreation Act);

j)	National Sport and Recreation Amendment Act No.18 of 2007;

k)	White Paper on sport and recreation;

l)	White Paper No.6;

m)	The UNESCO MINEPS IV (6-8 December 2004, Athens) recommendations;

n)	The International Charter of Physical Education and Sport (21 November 1978, Paris);

o)	The UN convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (03 May 2008);

p)	 Employment of Educators Act.

q)	IQMS and PMDS ELRC Chamber resolutions

11.	FUNDING

Nationally, the relevant departments shall jointly subsidise the SASSO and SASSO Codes, as well as participation at national and international levels;

1.	The relevant departments will jointly subsidise:

                         a)  Operational costs of the SASSO and its structures. 
             b)  The departments will fund training of educators annually.

	SRSA:

                         c)  Talent identification and development of high performing athletes at national 
                               level;

d)	Coach education, sport administration, technical officiating and training programs for educators; and
e)	 Fund technical skills development, sports science support, talent identification, meeting with federations.
    
   DBE
f)	National school sport activities.

11.2	Provincially, the relevant departments shall jointly subsidise the PROSSO and PROSSO Codes;

11.2.1	Jointly the relevant departments will subsidise:

a)	Talent identification and development of high performing athletes at national level;

b)	Coach education, sport administration, technical officiating and training programs for educators; 

c)	Operational costs of the PROSSO and its structures; 

d)	Fund international school sport activities.

DBE:
e)	Fund school code committee’s activities; and
f)	Fund school sport structure activities

3.	Where NF’s and SASSO Codes have sponsorship for school sport, this must complement the school sport programme.

4.	Funding is guided by the approved national school sport calendar.

5.	Where sponsorship is involved, the SASSO, together with sponsors, will use existing policy / protocol on branding for the school sport activities as outlined in the programme of action.

6.	The SASSO is to source its own funds; however, income generated from schools, parents and / or learners will be determined and monitored by NACOC.

7.	NFs shall be funded to assist in training and delivering this expertise to school sport.

12.	IMPLEMENTATION

12.1	MONITORING AND EVALUATION

 As part of oversight, the NACOC will ensure that monitoring and evaluation is integrated into the delivery of school sport programmes to maximize returns on investment. NACOC will also report quarterly to all stake holders on the progress of this process, contact details of coordinators will be available on website and other media. 

12.2	GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE  

If there is a dispute in terms of the interpretation of this policy by any party mandated to implement it, established organisational procedures must be followed.

12.3	EFFECTIVE DATE OF APPLICATION

The policy will be effective after all activities such as joint advocacy campaigns have been completed.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

1.	Associate member:  This refers to a member who has voting rights, maintains independent status and sits in executive meetings. 
2.	Building the capacity of educators shall mean professional training in sport that may not necessarily be resulted with accreditation.
3.	Custodianship shall mean the act of taking responsibility for technical aspects of school Sport and the integrity thereof, as well as the act of taking protective care of the role-players involved in School Sport. 
4.	Educational sport refers to a sporting activity that is initiated for the purpose of achieving a specific educational goal.
5.	Established organizational procedures shall mean a process whereby an aggrieved party lodges a complaint in writing to the immediate responsible stakeholder within five (5) working days. If the aggrieved party is not satisfied with the outcome, an appeal can be lodged within five (5) working days whereupon a response should be given within seven (7) working days.
6.	Federations are bodies that oversee regulations governing a sporting code
7.	Governance shall mean the act of governing, while govern shall mean ensuring that the policy and affairs of an organisation are implemented.
8.	Inter-mega district is an operational term referring to an amalgamation of districts for purposes of coordinating a school sporting event in some provinces
9.	Intra-school, inter-school, extra-curricular, extra-mural and co-curricular shall refer to the school sport element of school enrichment programmes.
10.	Principles of fair play include: respect of opponents and other stakeholders including the rules of the game, playing fair, accepting defeat gracefully, and refraining from corruption, drugs, racism, and violence and gambling.
11.	Registered school sport code refers to a particular type of sport that is played in and/or by schools and which qualifies for representation at PROCOC and/or NACOC for school sport level.
12.	Representivity in school sport shall mean the presence of learners with disabilities and those from disadvantaged schools
13.	School sport refers to the integral extramural, extracurricular component of the holistic education programme such as those affiliated to SASCOC.
14.	School sport code committee refers to the elected executive leadership of a body consisting of at least 70 percent of teachers that implements a particular school sport code.
15.	School sport programmes shall refer to all planned school sport activities which include but not limited to sporting events, coaching clinics, symposia, mass participation, competitive and high performance sport activities, talent identification and development.
16.	School Sport Structure refers to any entity and/or body that has been mandated to execute a specific school sport function such as SASSO with its provincial structure i.e. PROSSOs.
17.	South African School Sport Organisation: An organisation that consists of:
a)	Its provincial school sport organisations; and
b)	Registered National School Sport Codes.

ANNEXURE A
ANNEXURE B