Longer three-hour sports activities will soon be implemented in public schools, even as the institutionalization of school-based sports clubs (SSCs) looms.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the move is part of DepEd’s broader agenda to link health and academic recovery, in line with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s call for healthier and more active Filipinos.
“Kapag mas malusog ang katawan, mas malinaw ang isipan. Kapag mas aktibo ang mga bata, mas handa silang matuto at humabol sa anumang naiwang kaalaman noong pandemya,” said Angara in a statement.
The SSC program will complement the Physical Education curriculum by offering two to three hours of supervised sports activities each week.
Arnis will be mandatory, while other sports offered based on student interest, will be available together with facilities, and resources.
Angara said that the DepEd’s research shows that Filipino children and adolescents fall short of the World Health Organization’s recommendation of at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous daily physical activity.
The long sedentary hours in classrooms and the pandemic’s shift to remote learning have worsened inactivity, impacting both health and learning outcomes.
Membership in the clubs is voluntary and inclusive, with provisions for learners with disabilities and those in the Alternative Learning System.
