No timeline for return of school sports
This week, the Ministry of Sports and Arts confirmed that there is currently no timeline for the return of school sports. They are however actively working towards it as the Minister of Sports and Arts, Jacob Kelebeng, is expected to meet with the unions this week.
During the Sports Pitso held by the Ministry of Sports and Arts in collaboration with the BNSC recently, the sports community made recommendations for the return of school sports in their previous format. They noted that budgetary issues have been a significant hurdle, but the Ministry of Sports and Arts can allocate funds to facilitate this return. Following this, they can proceed with consultations on how the program should be implemented.
National associations expressed concerns that if the Ministry is not careful, students may go into the third term without the return of school sports, potentially ending the year without any sporting activities. They emphasized that it is crucial to continue negotiations with relevant stakeholders while allowing students to participate in sports. The consensus was that completely halting school sports from the beginning was never the best solution.
According to what the sports fraternity wants, the return of school sports should occur before the second term starts, which begins around May, as the first term is almost complete. They have made it clear that it is impossible to reinstate school sports without involving the teachers in the process.
The Ministry of Sports and Arts has noted all the concerns and recommendations, and even though there is no timeline yet, they have stated that their goal is to see school sports back as soon as possible because its absence has severely impacted sports. Last year, the Matlhagolatsela initiative was introduced, but it seems to be far from matching what school sports can offer.
Furthermore, the return of school sports is a pressing priority for the Ministry of Sports and Arts, as echoed by the sports fraternity. With the first term nearing its end and the second term approaching, stakeholders are eager to see a resolution that allows students to engage in physical activities once again.