DepEd mandates sports clubs in public schools to boost learning recovery

Jamayka Rhose Pascual

The Department of Education (DepEd) has ordered all public elementary and secondary schools to establish School Sports Clubs as part of a nationwide initiative to help students recover from “pandemic-driven” learning loss.

This initiative seeks to nurture both mental and physical health, encouraging students to adopt regular physical activity as a way to boost focus, energy, and readiness for academic challenges.

According to DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, the physically active students tend to be more alert in class.

“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,” Angara explained.

He then added that these clubs are not merely venues for games, but also training grounds for discipline, teamwork, and resilience that can serve the youth.

“Hindi lang ito tungkol sa paglalaro. Ito ay tungkol sa disiplina, teamwork, at tibay ng loob. Mga katangiang dapat bitbit ng mag-aaral hanggang sa tunay na buhay,” the education chief noted.

Under the project’s guidelines, each club will hold two to three hours of supervised sports activities every week, complementing the regular Physical Education curriculum.

DepEd cited the World Health Organization 2022 findings that revealed many Filipino children and adolescents falling short of the recommended 60 minutes of moderate to athletic activity each day.

To address this setback, Arnis will be a required sport, while other disciplines will depend on student interests, available space, and resources.

The policy also promotes unified sports, which bring together students with and without disabilities to promote inclusivity and reduce cases of bullying.

Participation will remain voluntary, but schools are expected to ensure that all students, including those with disabilities and those in the Alternative Learning System classes, have the opportunity to join freely.

Existing sports clubs will also be required to adapt to the new standards, while schools without such programs are required to organize them

“Sa bawat oras na ginugugol nila sa laro at ensayo, pinapalakas din natin ang kanilang konsentrasyon, memorya, at kakayahang magtagumpay sa klase,” Angara said.