Muhyiddin: Be creative in inculcating sports culture

BE INNOVATIVE: School leadership told find ways to promote sports

 WITH the implementation of the "1 Student, 1 Sport" policy, there is a need for schools and parents to be more innovative and creative in inculcating the sports culture.

In stressing this, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said it was within the means of the schools to have a sports culture, which the people could be proud of.

He also said it would be easier for schools that already had good sports' infrastructure to inculcate such a culture.

"It all lies in the wisdom of the school leadership to find ways and methods to promote sports among students.

"Those schools without good sports infrastructure can excel in cross-country runs or other suitable sports by making use of facilities provided by the local authorities, neighbouring schools or universities."

Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, was speaking to the Malaysian media covering his two-day working visit to Alabama since Wednesday.

He said sports culture in schools could help to contribute to sports' development in Malaysia and "can result in our ability to produce world-class champions".

"If schools do not pursue sports vigorously and the culture dies in schools, then producing champions will be an arduous task."

He said the Education Ministry wanted to provide dedicated sports teachers to all schools nationwide.

"For this purpose, we have formed a collaboration with the United States Sports Academy (USSA) to help train sports teachers.

"For a start, 1,018 teachers are now doing an international diploma programme in physical education in collaboration with USSA."

The programme, approved by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency, is conducted with the co-operation of the National Sports Institute. It involves physical education teachers in six zones -- Kedah, Pahang, Perak, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak.

Meanwhile, in his speech after being conferred the International Honorary Doctorate 2012 from USSA, Muhyiddin said sports played a big role in uniting the people of different races and religions in a multiracial country like Malaysia.

"It is my belief that with the right policy which attaches importance to sports as a unifying force, we can leverage on its goodwill to build a peaceful, united and resilient nation."

USSA vice-president and chief operating officer Dr T.J. Rosandich said the academy presented Muhyiddin with the doctorate for his contributions to sports development during his tenure as the youth and sports minister previously.

Among those who received the award in the past were prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and former Kuala Lumpur mayor Tan Sri Elyas Omar.

New Straits Time Online  Sunday 20 January,2013.

Che'Yahya Che'Soh

Principal SMKSB@STAR

Kuala Lumpur.

January,20 2013.