During the past scholastic year, SportMalta, in collaboration with the Directorate Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, launched the Schools on the Move initiative at a number of schools.

“The project is aimed at encouraging teenage girls to be more active during the recreation sessions,” SportMalta said in a statement.

Dance coaches from SportMalta visited the schools to introduce an activity, called Dance Fitness, to a group of students.

“The pilot project also provided training for team leaders to ensure that the exercise routine would still be held even when the coaches were not present. As a matter of fact, the Schools on the Move programme provides students with the necessary tools to become independent and physically active during their free time,” SportMalta added.

“Moreover, the project addresses bullying and peer pressure as physical activity fosters unity and solidarity among the team.”

SportMalta coaches will be expanding the programme during the next academic year as the ultimate aim is that Schools on the Move will be practised in all the schools on the Maltese islands.