550 students to write first PE exams

FIVE hundred and fifty students are registered to write the first ever CXC Physical Education and Sport examinations next month. Of that number, 375 are from Trinidad. The statistics were disclosed by Education Minister Hazel Manning last week at the launch of the exam at the Ambassador Hotel, Long Circular Road, St James. Manning said with the introduction of the exam, it meant CXC had endorsed the significance of the subject and the need to incorporate it among the traditional subjects. Manning added that the introduction of the exams this year was timely, as it coincided with the United Nations declaration that 2005 is the International Year of Physical Education and Sport.

She said the syllabus of the exam was “expansive in scope and provides interesting challenges,” and anticipated that in the “near future it will be acceptable as criteria for entry into the protective services and many other forms of employment.” Manning said the ministry also intended to seek scholarships for those deserving students. She said the subject had already been included as one of the eight core areas to be undertaken by students in Forms One to Three, which was a minimum requirement for taking the subject at the CXC level.

She said it was also proposed that even if students pursue the subject at CXC, they “will be required to participate in at least two periods of Physical Education at the Forms Four and Five levels.” Manning said plans were in place to upgrade facilities at secondary schools, as well as in constructing new schools, to provide for adequate facilities, or even providing a gymnasium in each new school to adequately teach the subject. She said at this time, students could “also pursue the subject at the advanced level in the General Certificate of Education programme at the GCE A’ Level.”

And from September this year, “The introduction of magnet programmes in schools will see physical education among the specialised programmes in secondary schools.” The minister said there was also a certificate programme in physical education at the School of Continuing Education, UWI, and hopefully, a degree programme would be introduced soon.