2015
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
MONTH AND DAY
A HEALTHY, ACTIVE AND PHYSICALLY LITERATE SOUTH AFRICA
PHYSICAL EDUCATION MONTH AND DAY FRAME OF REFERENCE
2
ADVOCACY AND SECTOR MOBILISATION
THROUGH ANNUAL PHYSICAL EDUCATION
SYMPOSIUM AND THE OBSERVANCE OF
PHYSICAL EDUCATION MONTH AND DAY
The Department of Basic Education (DBE), in
collaboration with the Physical Education Institute of
South Africa (PEISA), seeks to communicate its plan
of action for Physical Education to a wide range of
stakeholders, including educators, parents, the private
sector, civil society and the public in general, to allow
these stakeholders to join forces with the Department
to reinforce the implementation of Physical Education
instruction, and as a result improve the quality of basic
education in this country.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM AND RATIONALE
FOR THE PROJECT
Prior to 1994 when education was still segregated
according to race groups in South Africa, subjects like
Physical Education were compulsory but were often
not offered at all schools due to lack of a qualified
Physical Education teacher, lack of equipment or
the allocated time being given to more “important”
subjects such as mathematics and science.
The fact that Physical Education was not formally
assessed at the time further exacerbated the problem.
In some schools the subject did not even feature on
the school timetable and if it did feature it was used
as a homework period or for the teaching of other
subjects at other schools.
The vision of the DBE is one “in which all our
people have access to lifelong education and training
opportunities, which will in turn contribute towards
improving the quality of life and building a peaceful,
prosperous and democratic society.”
As one of the mission statements, the department
will achieve this vision through “developing schools as
centres of community life.”
In an attempt to accomplish this vision, the DBE is
determined to extent opportunities for equal and fair
access to these programmes to all learners in public
schools. Systems and resources have been established
in order to afford all learners opportunities towards
better schooling and education.
The Department has taken a deliberate step,
through the curriculum, of ensuring that Physical
Education constitutes an integral component of
the whole experience of learners. In an endeavour
to support efforts of the Department, PEISA, in
collaboration with departmental partners and
collaborators, is determined to raise awareness
and increase collaborative efforts so as to extent
opportunities for equal and fair access to Physical
Education programmes to all learners in public
schools.
OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT
Through its advocacy and sector mobilisation
programme, PEISA, under the auspices of the
Department of Basic Education, is preparing to cohost the 2015 Physical Education symposium, where
invited educators, researchers, content developers,
institutions of higher learning, basic education
partners, stakeholder, officials and other interest
groups are to make presentations, debate, share
knowledge and advance the interests of Physical
Education. The symposium will serve as a precursor
to the announcement by the Department of the date
and programme for the inaugural Physical Education
Month and Physical Education Day of South Africa.
The two day symposium (1st – 2nd April 2015), the
Physical Education Month (6th April – 10th May) and
the Physical Education Day (10th May) are expected to
feature as official programmes on the Department’s
annual events calendar.
WHY THE 6TH APRIL TO 10TH MAY?
The establishment of linkages with regional,
continental and international organisations with
comparable objectives, is central to PEISA’s mandate
and delivery mechanisms.
The decision to declare and annually observe
Physical Education Month between the 6th of April and
the 10th of May and Physical Education Day on the 10th
of May, is both opportune and strategic in elevating
the status of Physical Education in South Africa.
Furthermore, it is presumed that this approach
may also aid in the creation of a South African Physical
Education system, which will be compatible with
international standards and best practices.
www.peisa.co.za
PHYSICAL EDUCATION MONTH AND DAY FRAME OF REFERENCE
3
WORLD DAY OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES
The World Health Organization - decided during
the 54th World Health Assembly in 2002 that the World
Health Day would have as its theme as the promotion
of physical activity. From then, April 6 became the
World Day of Physical Activity.
Physical Education Symposium - 1st to 2nd April
2015
MOVE FOR HEALTH DAY
Every year, around 10 May, Member States are
encouraged to promote physical activity with national
activities - the day is known as "Move for Health Day".
The day provides a focal point to generate public
awareness of the benefits of physical activity in the
prevention of non-communicable diseases. It is up to
each individual Member State to plan and organise
the activities.
“Move for Health" refers to moderate to vigorous
physical activity of any type that anyone can perform
anywhere to improve health. In addition, it refers
to how individuals, communities and nations can
promote their health and well-being through healthy
lifestyles.
The four main objectives of national and global
actions on Move for Health Day are to:
◊ Generate public awareness of the benefits
of physical activity in the prevention of noncommunicable diseases;
◊ Advocate the benefits of physical activity and
give attention to good practice;
◊ Increase population-wide physical activity
participation in all domains (leisure time,
transport, work) and settings (school,
community, home, workplace);
◊ Promote healthy behaviours and lifestyles and
address health-related issues through sports
and physical activity, such as no tobacco use,
healthy diet, and reduction of violence, stress
and social isolation.
As part of PEISA’s mandated delivery mechanisms,
the two day symposium will set in motion the
opportunity for the Department to establish a
collaborative framework with a wide range of
stakeholders, including educators, parents, the private
sector, civil society and the public in general.
The call to action theme of the 2015 Physical
Education symposium shall be: “Meaningful
collaborations, for a healthy, active and physically
literate South Africa - our children’s future depends on
the action we take now.”
Physical Education Month - 6th April to 10th May
For 2015, the Physical Education Symposium will
also serve as a precursor to the launch of the inaugural
Physical Education Month and declaration of the
Physical Education Day. In observing and celebrating
Physical Education Month during the predetermined
dates, 6th April – 10th May, all schools including
Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centres, will be
encouraged to participate in curriculum orientated
physical activities.
The Physical Education Month programme will
follow the below format:
◊ 6th April – 10th April 2015 – Family and ECD
(6th of April is Family Day – Public Holiday)
◊ 13th April – 17th April 2015 – Foundation
Phase
◊ 20th April – 24th April 2015 – Intermediate
Phase
◊ 27th April – 1st May 2015 – Senior Phase
◊ 4th May – 8th May 2015 – FET Phase
www.peisa.co.za
PHYSICAL EDUCATION MONTH AND DAY FRAME OF REFERENCE
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DESCRIPTION OF PEISA
At exactly 5:30 p.m. on the 22nd of March 2011,
twenty thousand (20 000) children from more than
1,000 Boys and Girls Clubs across the United States
of America, jumped for two uninterrupted minutes setting the new world record for the “most people star
jumping simultaneously at multiple venues for two
consecutive minutes,” according to Guinness World
Records. Jumping jacks are called star jumps in some
countries, because the arms, legs and head form a
five-pointed star.
The Physical Education Institute of South Africa
(PEISA) is a registered Non-Profit Company, established
to reinforce the instruction of Curriculum Orientated
Physical Education and act as a catalyst for promoting
physical activity in all schools. PEISA is committed to
advocating for active engagement, skills development,
debate, research, knowledge sharing and setting the
foundation for a healthy, active and physically literate
South Africa.
G
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GUINNESS WO
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Physical Education Day - 10th May
On the 8th of May 2015 at 08:00 am, in celebrating
Physical Education Day, PEISA with the support
of the Department and its stakeholders and
partners, will attempt to set a new world record
for “the most people star jumping simultaneously
at multiple venues for two consecutive minutes”.
Schools will be required to synchronise their
time in order to all carry out the challenge and to
record themselves accordingly (under appropriate
supervision).
It is worth noting that in 2015, the 10th of May
(Physical Education Day) falls on a Sunday, and as
a result, for this year, the Physical Education Day
celebrations will be observed on Friday the 8th 2015.
PEISA acts as protagonist for Government to:
◊ Include Physical Education as a tool in
development programmes and policies,
including those contributing to the
achievement of the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs);
◊ Work collectively and form partnerships based
on solidarity and cooperation;
◊ Promote Physical Education as a tool
for health, education, social and cultural
development on the local and national levels;
and
◊ Strengthen collaboration with civil society
actors with the aim of supporting Physical
Education development projects targeted at
the achievement of the MDGs.
PEISA AIMS
◊ To champion and be a means of advocacy
on behalf of Physical Education and physical
activity in South Africa, through active
engagement, debate, knowledge sharing and
skills development in the sectors responsible
for the health and education of the nation;
◊ To be a forum for the expression of opinions
and cooperation on behalf of all physical
educationalists in South Africa;
◊ To evoke a set of guiding principles for the
instruction of Physical Education;
◊ To aid in the creation of a South African
Physical Education system, which will be
compatible with or above international
standards;
◊ To establish professional contact and relations
with other related institutions; and
◊ To provide Physical Educationalist with
research based norms and objective standards
for the implementation and assessment of
Curriculum Orientated Physical Education.
www.peisa.co.za
PHYSICAL EDUCATION MONTH AND DAY FRAME OF REFERENCE
5
PEISA OBJECTIVES
ANTICIPATED OUTCOME
PEISA objectives are to:
◊ Reinforce the instruction of Curriculum
Orientated Physical Education in all schools;
◊ Improve the quality of Physical Education by
focusing on the PEISA mandate and delivery
mechanisms, namely:
»» Advocacy and sector mobilisation
campaigns;
»» Research;
»» Content development;
»» Capacity and skills development;
»» Support, monitoring and evaluation;
»» Impact assessment;
◊ Be in a position to deliver and or create
opportunities for all affected schools, learners
and educators so as to access relevant
support;
◊ Endeavour for a South Africa where all learners
of all abilities in all schools, with a specific focus
on girls and children living with disabilities,
will have increased their participation in high
quality, well organised Curriculum Orientated
Physical Education; and
◊ Have learners who demonstrate improvements
in identified life skills through participation in
specified programmes.
The anticipated outcome of the PEISA interventions,
is that of a healthy, active and physically literate South
Africa.
Whereby all learners of all abilities in all schools, with
an inclusionary approach to girls and children living
with disabilities, will have increased their participation
in high quality, well organised Curriculum Orientated
Physical Education and will furthermore demonstrate
improvements in identified life skills through their
participation in specified programmes.
The drive behind having a physically literate society
is for the establishment of a stable physical activity
foundation that would ensure lifelong participation by
all citizens.
THE ANTICIPATED
OUTCOME OF THE PEISA
INTERVENTIONS, IS THAT
OF A HEALTHY, ACTIVE AND
PHYSICALLY LITERATE
SOUTH AFRICA
www.peisa.co.za