Platform Schools, Ipaja, Lagos, has enjoined stakeholders in the education sector to schedule a specific time for sports in their schools.
Speaking at the 2023 biennial inter-house sport, Director, Platform Schools, Dr Bola Obe, explained that participating in sports would improve human health, well-being, and longevity.
He said, “Stakeholders need to know that scheduling specific time for sports is not a waste of time. A day should be set aside in the week for students to participate in sports. In Platform Schools, both indoor and outdoor sports are compulsory for our students. We make sure that they participate in chess, table tennis, swimming, basketball, football, and aerobics. We know the implication of sports and we do not play them down in any way. Schools should make sports part of the curriculum because we have been able to produce winners of the Lagos Open Chess Competition, and many athletic competition medals too numerous to mention. We encourage other schools to do the same.”
Proprietress, Platform Schools, Mrs Olayemi Obe, emphasised that sports contributed to learners’ mental and physical development.
She explained that successful sports professionals developed their skills from a young age, saying children who participated well in a group sport would likely develop soft skills such as the ability to collaborate, work with others in group projects, and possess communication skills.
She added, “Sport is an important concept in the psychomotor domain. It is important for every child’s development. It is also one domain that could be used to measure students’ physical health and mental alertness. A child who participates well in a group sport would likely develop soft skills such as the ability to collaborate, work with others in a group project, and possess communication skills.”
Chairman, the organising committee of the event and Headmistress, Platform Schools, Mrs Lois Afolayan, said, “Sports is important because it complements education, not every child will be academically sound. But some will be sports professionals. We ensured the competition was well planned.”
Foremost Olympic medallist, Falilat Ogunkoya, presented medals to some of the winners and encouraged parents to support their children’s sports skills.
