Schools are not delivering enough

I have read about the New Sports Schemes For Children (February 23).

I perfectly agree that physical activity should be held on a regular basis as the Health Promotion Department. This is continuously appealing, especially in their very colourful poster titled Kun attiv kuljum that is being distributed in schools. Physical activity should not, however, replace students' breaks, which are also important for children to eat their lunches, chat, relax and play. Playing together through sports is a very important part of the children's formation. This precious time for play and also for physical activity must be supplemented with healthy food and no junk foods should be allowed in schools.

However, I do hope this pilot project, whereby a number of schools will provide after-school training sessions to children, does not serve as a means whereby school employees claim overtime in the future.

I also read on another newspaper that some state schools in Gozo are providing after-school services for children.

"Overtime" is defined by the EU, which also lays down how long an employee should be forced to stay beyond the normal working hours. In Malta, much more than in other countries, state school employees enjoy the best of working conditions, namely, the longest holidays and a working week that is shorter than 40 hours.

Apart from the fact that not enough physical activities are held in schools, most children have to attend private lessons. They also have to attend Christian doctrine lessons in the evening in order to be able to receive the sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation. To top it all, our children are classified as the most obese in the world.

Overtime or extra pay, call it whatever you like, is not the solution to solve the chronic problem that schools are not delivering enough. However, I have serious doubts and will not be surprised if the Education Division will be faced with such demands.

Another possible solution for overcoming the lack of physical activities in schools is for regular PE lessons to replace other subjects, but this obviously does not make sense.

I do not expect teachers to take paper work at home, a good reason why school hours should be extended!