FIK 3042 ENGLISH FOR COMMUNICATION II

ASSIGNMENT 2

QUESTION 2 : RECENTLY THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION HAS INTRODUCED 1 STUDENT 1 SPORT AT SCHOOL LEVELS. HOW COULD THIS HELP TO DEVELOP EXERCISE HABITS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN? DISCUSSLECTURE E-LEARNINGDR MAHENDRAN A/L MANIAM

RUTH LING WANG LINGD20112053706UPSI A06PROGRAM PENSISWAZAHAN GURU PENDIDIKAN JARAK JAUH

RECENTLY THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION HAS INTRODUCED 1 STUDENT 1 SPORT AT SCHOOL LEVELS. HOW COULD THIS HELP TO DEVELOP EXERCISE HABITS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN? DISCUSS

1 student 1 sport policy is a program that every school in Malaysia neither primary nor secondary school has to participate in this program starting from year 2011. It was the conjunction with the launching of 1 Malaysia by Prime Minister of Malaysia Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. This policy supports the implementation of the FPK (National Education Philosophy) which aims to balance development in intellectual, spiritual, emotional and physical. The aims of this policy are to increase physical vitality, develop the pupils character, self-esteem, discipline and values. In addition, it can create a culture of spots and to foster unity among the races. Besides, through 1 Student 1 Sport policy, it provides a balance between academic needs and physical needs to create track toward excellence. Pupils with good academics will be involved in sports and this would make them balanced high achievers. According to Downs A. (2001) in his journal, A study conducted in 2008, found that over 53% of undergraduate students sample reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms, and 11% had considered suicide in the past four weeks (Garlow,S.J. 2008). College students also appear to be at elevated risk for anxiety disorder, with one study identifying 52.8% as expiring moderate to high levels of anxiety. On his research, he found that high school and college students who consistently engaged in Vigorous Physical Activity over the years reported better mental health, higher self-esteem and less stress. Today, the heavy workload in schools had made the pupils less likely to choose sports. In addition, they do not have much time for sport. However with the implementation of 1 Student 1 Sport policy, each pupil is compulsory to actively involve by participating in at least one sports activity in school sport activities throughout the year. At the same time, pupils are allowed to participate in more than one sport base on their capability and school coordination. This policy is mandatory for the primary pupils from Year 4 to Year 6 and secondary pupils from Remove to Form 6. However, the pre-school pupils up to Year 3 pupils are encouraged to participate in this program based on the school ability. Currently, primary pupils spend 60 minutes weekly for Physical Education, while secondary school students spend 80 minutes weekly. However, starting from the year 2011, secondary school students would get 90 minutes a week to participate in the sport event of their choice while primary school student would get 60 minutes per week. Through sports, pupils learn how to cooperate, be responsibility, responsible and work as a team. There is empirical evidence showing many positive results by implementing the physical activity in school. It showed an increase in students focus on studies, physical activity participation, awareness of healthy habits, alertness and enjoyment (Evenson, Ballard, Lee, & Ammerman, 2009). Under 1S1S policy, the schools must make plans to manage their sports activities systematically in order to increase the participation and help in the development potential of each student in sports habits. Several of sports activities such as organizing sports competition between the classes, form, sports house, dorm hostel and school sports club will be carry out effectively throughout the year. Sports provide pupils with task and challenges that promote cooperation, problem-solving and teamwork during Physical Education lesson. In some schools, Physical Education (PE) lesson sometimes been abused by the teacher to teach other subjects. Moreover, some schools do not have appropriate facilities and sport equipment for the pupils to use in the PE time. Most of the sports teachers tasked with teaching sports only had the skill to teach Physical Education but they did not master any of the sport. However, through the implementation of this policy, the government would have to improve sports infrastructure and ensure the school to be optimizing the use of existing facilities, equipment and expertise available in the school or the surrounding area. Cooperate with other agencies or public-partnerships are required to develop the school sports program for excellence (Alimuddin Mohd Dom., 2010). The government had given financial assistance to schools by increasing the annual sports grant from RM2.40 to RM4. In addition, five Teacher Training Institute have been tasked to train highly qualified spots teacher, said Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the Minister of Education. Moreover, 21 teachers from Perak and Sabah were sent to attend an exchange program in United Kingdom to share ideas and impart knowledge on developing physical education training. The purposed of this is to make sure teachers will carry out a good and quality sports elements in Physical Education lesson (Bernama, 2011).On the other hand, the government had made Physical and Health Education a compulsory subject to all primary and secondary school. Through this new Physical Education and Health Curriculum, pupils should be able to put into practice the knowledge, skills and experience that they had gained in their lesson and lead them toward a healthy lifestyle. Physical activities have been shown to increase pupils self-esteem and general wellbeing. Besides, it also found that physical activities and sports help children to develop essential social skills such as concentration, self-discipline, cooperation and an awareness of need to think of things and people other than themselves (Andrews, C., 2009). As the conclusion, the implementation of 1 Student 1 Sport policy was a part of a plan to bring a major transformation in the education system, especially in co-curricular activities and to make teaching and learning fun. Nevertheless, its also face several obstacles such as lack of sport facilities in some school, less of trained human resources, parents complain and schools are not fully involved. However, the policy still has to be carried out due to the main purpose of the Education Ministry which is to build health, personality and well-being pupils.

REFERENCES

1 student 1 sport policy to be implemented. (2010, March 18). The Star Online. Retrieved from http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/18/nation/5887489&sec= nation7/17/focus/6532335&sec=focus

Alimuddin Mohd Dom. (2010 July 17). The power of sports for a better society. The Star Online. Retrieved from http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/

Andrews, C. (2009, March). Linking sport to positive behavior. Teaching Expertise. Retrieved from http://www.teachingexpertise.com/articles/linking-sport-positive-behaviour-70 01

Bernama. (2011, March). Malaysia, UK teachers in physical education exchange programme. Education News Update. Retrieved from http://education.bernama.com/index.php?sid =news_content&id=573580

Downs, A. & Ashton, J. (2011). Vigorous physical activity, sports participation, and athletic identity: Implications for mental and physical health in college students. Journal of Sport Behavior, 34(3), 228-249.

Evenson, K. R., Ballard, K., Lee, G. & Ammerman, A. (2009). Implementation of a school-based state policy to increase physical activity. Journal of School Health, 79(5), 231-238.Garlow, S. J., Rosenberg J., Moore, J. D., Haas, A. P., Koestner, B., Hendin, H., & Nemeroff, C. B. (2008). Depression, desperation, and suicidal ideation in college students: Results from the American foundation for suicide prevention college screening project at Emory University. Depression and Anxiety, 25, 482-488.D20112053706Page 5