DepEd orders creation of school sports clubs to strengthen health and academics

Peter Jandrei Melan

To encourage healthier lifestyles and aid in learning recovery, the Department of Education (DepEd) is requiring every public elementary and secondary school in the country to organize School Sports Clubs (SSCs).

The program, according to Education Secretary Sonny Angara, ties physical activity directly to academic success, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Kapag mas malusog ang katawan, mas malinaw ang isipan. Kapag mas aktibo ang mga bata, mas handa silang matuto at humabol sa anumang naiwang kaalaman noong pandemya,” said Education Secretary Sonny Angara.

Beyond physical activity, Angara emphasized that the initiative seeks to build discipline, teamwork, and resilience, qualities students can carry well beyond their school years.

SSCs will work alongside the existing Physical Education curriculum, allotting an extra two to three hours each week for supervised sports. 

DepEd cited recent data showing that many Filipino children and adolescents fail to meet the World Health Organization’s guideline of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous daily exercise.

Under the directive, arnis will become a required sport in public schools, while other activities will be selected based on students’ preferences, facilities, and resources. 

The program will also promote unified sports, where students with and without disabilities compete together to encourage inclusion, friendship, and a reduction in bullying.

Although the establishment of SSCs will be compulsory for schools, joining will be voluntary. DepEd assured that the program is inclusive and will accommodate learners with disabilities as well as those enrolled in the Alternative Learning System.

According to DepEd, the move goes beyond sports, aiming to keep students fit while also improving how they learn in the classroom.