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NATIONAL PHYSICAL EDUCATION & SPORTS POLICY FOR SCHOOLS

Improving Physical Education, Optimizing Health For Sports Excellence

By ALWAG Research & Education Center

OPTIMIZE HEALTH FOR SPORTS EXCELLENCE

AcknowledgmentsA document of this nature owes much to many people who in diverse ways contributed to make it a success. To accelerate progress to meet the changing needs of the society as well as the nation, there should be an outline and guidance to be followed to meet these changing needs for development. To achieve this, it is very necessary to develop policies that will help lead to the achievement of the concerns. In line with this, the Ministry of education under the Basic education division has collaborated with UNICEF and British council to develop Physical Education and Sports Policy to help promote physical education and its activities especially sports and physical activities to promote good health and as well as healthy living.

The physical education and sports policy began with discussions with Professor Reginald Ocansey from the Active Lifestyle & Wellness Research and Education and Research Center (ALWEREC). After the initial discussions, a meeting of physical education and sports organizers from the Ghana Education Service was held to further discuss the Physical Education & Sports Policy for Schools in Ghana. A policy discussion was held to sharpen the working document put together by the ALWRERC.

All told; thisThis National Policy for Physical Education and Sports could not have been completed but for the collective effort and support of the members of ALWRERC, sponsors and the thinktankfacilitators who put their ideas together for this final draft. We are also very grateful to the following for their contributionwithout them this policy will not have come to reality:

NAME DESIGNATION ORGANIZATIONMr. Stephen Adu Dep.DR.Director Basic EducationGen (B.E) GES-AccraProf. Reginald Ocansey Lead Facilitator GPEStt-EMGJerry V. Hodo Facilitator GES-TemaDjitri Diana Ethel Facilitator GES-P-AMASSNational PES Coordinator HQ GESRegional PES Coordinators Regions GESRhoda Enchil Project Manager British CouncilMadeez Adamu-Issah Education Specialist UNICEFFred Birikorang Coordinator/BED BED/GESDerrick O. Charway National CoordinatorBILD BILD

Ghana/University of Ghana.Gillian Norris Project Manager GL. Ed. ProjectGao Kwabena XXXXX Right to playKuku Dsane XXXXX Natl. Sports AssociationMichael Ntow Aryeh xxxxxxxxGES-ACCRA…… etc- INCOMPLETE

Abbreviations1. GOC- Ghana Olympic Committee2. HOPASE- Health-Optimizing Physical Activity & Sports Excellence3. HOPE- Health-Optimizing Physical Education 4. IIP- International Inspirations Program5. MVPA- Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity6. NCDs- National Non-Communicable Diseases7. NPESB- National Physical Education and Sports Board8. NPESCC- National Physical Education and Sports Corporate Committee9. NSA- National Sports Authority10. PAD- Physical Activity Departments in Schools


11. SPE- Sports Performance Excellence SMU- Sports Medical Unit12. WHO- World Health Organization


ForwardTransforming the Nation into middle-income status requires collective efforts from various sectors, which include, but not limited to the education, health, and physical activity and sports sectors. Strategies for moving the transformation must include a human capital developmental agenda that places physical activity at the growth of health and sports in the nation. Only a healthy population can bring about productivity and subsequent transformation to a middle-income status and well as improved performance in sports.

The visions of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Youth & Sports, unequivocally emphasize Optimized Health. TThe Ministry of Health’s Non-Communicable Diseases Policy and the Physical Activity in Public Health Task Force document all emphasize developing a healthy population; he Ministry of Youth and Sports envisions enhancement of ing health fitness; while the Ministry of Education and the National Inspectorate Board envision improvementing of performance. , and furthering the legacy of the London games. As a nation, we have committed to promote the legacy of the 2012 London games and to ensure social protection and to safe-guard the health of children and youth.

Thus, developing sports excellence through quality health-optimizing physical activity interventions is a splendid policy direction, which will foster strong inter-sectorial partnership approach to ensure social protection and to safe-guard the health of children and youth.

The policy argues that a sports excellence culture can be built in the country only if there are: Improvements in the organization and management of physical education and sports in

schools Curricula changes that focus on teaching physical activity in physical education to protect

and safe-guard the health of children and youth Curricula changes that focus on teaching physical activity in physical education to optimize

health for sports excellence Improvements of health and safety and guarding environments for physical activity for

pupils and students.

This policy sets out measures, which will lead to actions for optimizing health for excellence in sports performance. It provides a framework for the implementation of the policy measures. Largely, the policy provides a new direction in the development of health and sports in the country, and will serve as basis for the development of our sports and health sector priorities and planning.

Optimize Health for Sports Excellence

Hon. ……… ….. ……….. …..Minister of Education

Hon. ……… ….. ……….. …..Director General of Education (GES)

GPEStt Publishers holds the copyright for all the information contained in this policy document, Authors, contributors, sponsors, partners and collaborators may copy for their own use and other persons may do a one-time use, but persons are not to copy for the purpose of commerce. Professional ethics makes such a practice contrary to the existence of the Policy.

© 2013 by GPEStt Publications.This policy was formulated by ALWERC in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service, Ministry of Education, and supported by UNICEF and British Council.


ContentsAcknowledgments...................................................................................................................2

Abbreviations.......................................................................................................................... 2

Forward....................................................................................................................................3

1: Introduction.........................................................................................................................7

1.1: Purpose...........................................................................................................................71.2: Scope of the Policy..........................................................................................................71.3: Source of the Policy.........................................................................................................7

2: Health-Optimizing Physical Education for Sports Excellence.............................................8

2.1: Physical Activity in Physical Education and Sports..........................................................82.2: Benefits of the Policy......................................................................................................82.3: National Context for School Physical Education & Sports..........................................10

3: Policy Framework..............................................................................................................11

3.1: Stakeholder Mission, Vision and Goal Statements.....................................................113.1.1: Ministry of Education.......................................................................................113.1.2: Ministry of Youth & Sports..............................................................................123.1.3: Ministry of Health............................................................................................123.2: Persistent Links between Stakeholders’ Visions.................................................13

4: New Physical Education & Sports Mission, Vision and Goal Statements.........................14

4.1: New Physical Education................................................................................................144.2: Sports Excellence...........................................................................................................14

5: Guiding Principles..............................................................................................................15

6: Conceptual Framework.....................................................................................................15

7.1: Establishment of the National Physical Education and Sports Directorate...............187.2: The Objects and Functions of the National Directorate..............................................187.3: The Composition of the National Directorate.............................................................18

8: The National Physical Education and Sports Board (NPESB)............................................18

8.1: Establishment of the Nation Physical Education and Sports Board...........................188.2: Disqualification for Membership.................................................................................198.3: Tenure of Office............................................................................................................198.4: Meetings of the Board..................................................................................................198.5: Committees of the Board.............................................................................................208.6: Remuneration payable to members of the Board.......................................................20

9: Regional School Physical Education & Sports Councils.....................................................20

9.1: Establishment of Regional School Physical Education & Sports Councils..................20


9.2: Composition of Regional School Physical Education & Sports Councils.....................209.3: Functions of Regional School Physical Education & Sports Councils..........................209.4: Tenure of Office............................................................................................................21

10: District School Physical Education & Sports Units..........................................................21

10.1: District School Physical Education & Sports Units (DPESU)......................................2110.2: Composition of District School Physical Education & Sports Units...........................2110.3: Functions of District School Physical Education & Sports Units................................2110.4: Tenure of Office..........................................................................................................21

11: Zonal School Physical Education & Sports Committees..................................................22

11.1: Zonal Physical Education & Sports Committees (ZPESC)...........................................2211.2: Composition of Zonal Physical Education & Sports Committees..............................2211.3: Functions of Zonal School Physical Education & Sports Committees.......................2211.4: Tenure of Office..........................................................................................................22

12: Administration.................................................................................................................22

12.1: Secretariat..................................................................................................................2212.2: Chief Executive Officer and Other Staff.....................................................................2312.3: Functions of the Secretary General............................................................................2312.4: Functions of the Administrative Secretary................................................................2312.5: Internal Auditor..........................................................................................................23

13: Financial Provisions.........................................................................................................23

13.1: Corporate Committee.................................................................................................2313.2: Funds of the National Physical Education and Sports Directorate...........................2413.3: Borrowing Powers......................................................................................................2413.4: Budget of the National Directorate...........................................................................2413.5: Financial Year.............................................................................................................2413.6: Accounts and Audit....................................................................................................24

14: Capacity Development for School Physical Education & Sports.....................................25

14.1: Measures for Human Resource Development............................................................2514.2: Measures for Sports and Physical Education Infrastructure......................................2514.3: Measures for Sports and Physical Education Practices..............................................26

15: Implementation Framework...........................................................................................26

15.1: The Ministry of Education and Agencies.....................................................................2615.2: Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation.............................................................................2615.3: Donor Participation.....................................................................................................26

16: Miscellaneous..................................................................................................................27


16.1: Annual Report.............................................................................................................2716.2: Directions by the Minister of Education.....................................................................2716.3: Officers of the Authority are Public Officers...............................................................2716.4: Regulations..................................................................................................................2716.5: Stakeholders..............................................................................................................2716.6: Principal Areas of Action.............................................................................................2816.7: Interpretation..............................................................................................................2916.9: Other Functions of District Assembly and Zonal Units...............................................3016.10: Committees of the Board..........................................................................................3016.11: Benefits.....................................................................................................................3116.12: School Sports Competitions......................................................................................3116.12.1: Regulations for School Sports Competitions.........................................................3116.12.2: School Sports Competitions...................................................................................3216.15: Organs of the National Physical Education & Sports Directorate.............................33


1: Introduction

1.1: PurposeThe general purpose of “The National Physical Education and Sports Policy for schools” is to provide for the promotion, management and encouragement of School Physical Education & Sports and for related matters.

More specifically, by this policy there is established a body known as the National Physical Education & Sports Directorate and its critical organs through which health-optimizing physical education and sports excellence in the country shall be promoted.

In addition, by this policy there is established the following organs for effective and efficient management and promotion of School Physical Education and Sports and related matters:

1. a National Physical Education and Sports Board (NPESB),2. a National Physical Education and Sports Corporate Committee (NPESCC),3. Regional School Physical Education and Sports Councils4. District School Physical Education and Sports Units and5. Zonal School Physical Education and Sports Committees

This policy strongly suggests the establishment of the following committees, among others, to support the National Physical Education and Sports Board:

1. Inter-ministerial coordinating committee2. Corporate Committee3. Child Health and Safety Committee

1.2: Scope of the PolicyThe scope of this policy is cross-ministerial involving the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth

& Sports and the Ministry of Health. This gives a very strong message that Government fully understands the importance of sport and physical activity in improving the lives of young people.

1.3: Source of the PolicySports (whether school or national) is recognized as an important instrument for nation building and therefore its organization must be a high priority in Ghana. Even more important is its development and promotion which must be systematic and sequenced appropriately from early active childhood through adult (national) sports excellence. The source of this physical education and sports policy is:

1. Primarily motivated by the Legacy of the London 2012 Games agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of Ghana signed on the behalf of Ghana by the Minister of Education and the Minister of Youth & Sports prior to the 2012 London Olympic Games.

2. Centered on furthering the Legacy of the London 2012 Games to fully support and promote sport and physical activity to improve the lives of young people.

3. Article 37, clause (5) of the Constitution which provides that, “The State shall ensure that adequate facilities for sports are provided throughout Ghana and that sports are promoted as a means of fostering national integration, health and self-discipline as well as international friendship and understanding”

4. The National Sports Policy (Ministry of Youth & Sports, 1994),5. The Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS II, 2006) which positioned sports as a tool

for development,6. The National Non-Communicable Diseases Policy, and7. The National Dietary and Physical Activity Guidelines (Ministry of Health, 2013).


All told and based upon the sources of influence of this policy, there is an urgent need for policy directions for the development and promotion of physical education and sports in the country.

2: Health-Optimizing Physical Education for Sports Excellence

2.1: Physical Activity in Physical Education and SportsIn this policy, physical activity is defined as bodily movements produced by skeletal muscles that require energy expenditure. Sports, on the other hand, are defined as institutionalized playful physical activity that entails both fundamental and complex bodily movements. Thus, sports is a subset of physical activity. The notion of exercise begins to emerge when physical activities, including sport are packaged for specific purposes and learning outcomes pertaining to, for example, development of muscular strength or for the maintenance of cardio-respiratory endurance.

From the description about physical activity in the preceding paragraph, the picture is clear, that, the overriding goal for physical education should be to provide youth with physical activity during physical education classes. Such a goal represents tangible outcome from participating in physical activity in physical education. The health rationale for emphasizing physical activity in physical education classes is that:

1. Physical education is the only required program that theoretically provide Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) to virtually all students, and

2. Immediate health benefits accrue when MVPA is provided, with students spending 50% of physical education time being physically active (U.S. Public Health Service, 1991)

Aligning Physical Education goals with public health is a good thing because there is evidence on the prevalence and health effects of physical activity that occur in Physical Education or Sports, from multiple cognitive, social, and physical skills objectives (Pate & Hohn, 1994). This Policy suggests a NEW Physical Education focus- “Active Physical Education”, one that yields, at least, 50% of MVPA in students. Active Physical Education supports Sports Excellence and in fact, following the 2012 Olympics, the Australian Olympic Committee Chief, John Coates was quoted as saying that “Physical Education can ‘boost’ Olympic success”. He blamed the decline of sports in schools for the Australian athletes' less than expected performance at the London Games. He further noted that, the foundation of elite sports performance is Quality Physical Education in schools. Consistent with the health orientation, providing physical activity during physical education is THE MAJOR indicator of Physical Education quality- because doing physical activity has so many documented benefits.

2.2: Benefits of the Policy This policy defines principles and objectives for optimizing health for sports excellence and proposed developmentally and age appropriate standards of engagement to reduce unethical age-related practices in sports. The policy also proposes a sound platform for reducing inequities in physical education and sports. Its vision is that of creating a health-optimizing environment to build excellence in sports performance among our youth and children, which will lead to higher-level


national excellence in sports, and above all, create wealth through physically active lifestyle to ensure healthy citizenry and national development.

The benefits derivable from this policy cannot be overemphasized. There is health, academic, physical, moral social and economic benefits derivable from this policy. Below are few of such benefits that will boost national development in diverse ways:

1. Help Government and the public to understand that when it comes to the health of the nation, it is not only a concern of the Ministry of Health, but also the Ministry of Education. In fact, to optimize health for national productivity and sports excellence, platform is unequivocally in schools.

2. Help Government, and the public to understand that when it comes to national sports, it is not only a concern of the Ministry of Youth & Sports, but also the Ministry of Education. In fact, to foster national sports excellence, optimized health is critical, and the developmental platform is unequivocally in schools

3. Help Government, and the public to understand that when it comes to recreation (for active lifestyle); it is not only a concern of the Ministry of Tourism- where recreation is housed, but also the Ministry of Education . In fact, to enhance productive recreation to optimize health and mass participation in sports and other physical activities, the Ministry of Local Government and its Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies are the major stakeholders to ensure development of recreational facilities within schools, next to school and in the communities.

4. Help Government, and the public to understand the distinct differences between PHYSICAL EDUCATION as a fulltime occupation with clear expectations for accountability and SPORTS as a fulltime occupation with clear expectations for accountability. Separate disciplines with distinct rewards and accountability systems.

5. A huge platform for Job Creation and Youth Employment. Youth coaches can be trained and assigned to School Sports Units, within Physical Activity Departments in schools, to coach specific sports teams. It is obvious that, school sports, as currently run, lacks experts in fitness training, injury prevention and treatment as well. This policy will open up opportunities for the training and certification of youth in these areas of importance, the country, as a whole, has been grossly neglected in our sports culture.

6. Minimize irregularities and cheating practices through proper eligibility regulations and control. Good record-keeping of player development through school sports and other criteria will help minimize the age discrepancies plaguing Ghana sports today.

7. Promote good performance record-keeping to enhance effectiveness of recruitment nationally and internationally.

8. Ensure proper accountability for physical education teachers and sports coaches in schools.9. Private schools sports, International schools sports and public schools sports activities shall

be better organized and operated under appropriate eligibility regulations under the National Schools Sports Federation.

10. Physical education goals and standards shall be pursued in their own rights without reference to sports gains or wins.

11. Enforce stringent accountability for learning in physical education.12. Provide clear and explicit directives for the Inspectorate Division of the Ministry of Education

when it comes to assessment and evaluation of Physical Education in schools.13. Promote enabling environment for parents, School Management Committees (SMCs),

Assembly members and the community to own and contribute to the teaching and the organization of school sports.

14. Enforce stringent accountability for using sport to address social and development issues. 15. Fully engage and utilize MOYS District sport development officers and sport coordinators in

sport for development in the school


2.3: National Context for School Physical Education & Sports

The collective survival of a nation is in its initiatives, efforts and opportunities targeted to building and growing a healthy citizenry. The survival of our nation’s sports culture is dependent upon the health and fitness of its citizens. Our collective survival as well as socio-economic development can be ensured if government and collaborating agencies, place public health benefits of physical activity at the core of its developmental agenda.

The Directive Principles of State Policy, as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution, mandates the President of the Republic of Ghana to ensure the realization of basic human rights, a healthy economy, the right to education and work, the right to play and physical activity, and the right to good health. The Ghana Education Service and its allied Ministries and Agencies has been established under the outfit of the Ministry of Education to ensure the right to education, physical education and sports, and in collaboration with Sports for Development Partners, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Youth & Sports, Ministry of Women & Children, Ministry of Local Government and Ministry of Health to reduce the impact of physical inactivity (and ill-health) on socio-economic development.

Over the past decades, Government and Partner Agencies have sought in various ways to provide the necessary environment and inputs towards improving quality physical education (as well as education in general) and sports performance excellence. A Policy Document on Sports was formulated in 1994 by the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the promotion and development of sports in the country. The 1994 Policy takes into account our noble achievements in sports and provides proposals, plans and guidance, to ensure systematic growth through a scientific approach and efficient and effective administration. Above all, the 1994 Sports Policy placed sports at the center of building a healthy, united, productive, and disciplined society. Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not just the absence of disease or infirmity (World Health Organization, 2000), and physical activity in physical education and sports enhances the state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing of its citizens. Physical activity is indispensable in Education, Sports and Health Sectors in the country. Hence the theme for this Policy- “-Optimizing School Physical Education for Sports Performance Excellence”.

It is worth noting that in 2005, the Ministry of Education & Sports adopted a national policy for (i) Sports for Excellence, and (ii) Sports for Development & Peace. Since 2005, a number of Sports Development & Peace initiatives have emerged -to develop and advance the adoption of policies that incorporate sport and physical activity into development and foreign assistance strategies and programs. The aim is - to empower participants and communities by engaging them in the design and delivery of activities, build local capacity, adhere to generally accepted principles of transparency and accountability and pursue sustainability through collaboration, partnership and coordinated action. In the same year, the Ministry of Health placed “Exercise”, which is prescribed physical activity, at the heart of preventive health in its Regenerative Health & Nutrition Programs.

Based on the context illustrated above, it may appear that, an inter-sectoral action may be necessary for actual implementation to ensure quality physical education and sports excellence. Surely, there is a need for that. Very little attention has been given to mobilizing individuals, communities and sectors to promote Active Health, and ensuring healthy environments for school sports excellence. Currently, physical activity and its associated public health benefits, does not sit at the center of curricula development and teaching in school physical education; neither is prescribing exercise using various bodily movements for energy expenditure, positioned at the center of sports


excellence. Finally, there is no strategic document to refer for developing school physical education and school sports.

3: Policy Framework

This policy framework derives from public health importance in physical education and highlights optimizing the public health impact of physical education. Optimizing the public health impact of school physical education is a necessary pre-condition for the development of excellence in school sports.

Without question, this policy recognizes the mutual inter-relationship between physical education and sports and in addition, the complex inter-sectorial relationships that exist to actualize the goal to provide youth with health-optimizing physical activity during physical education classes in schools, and nurturing physically fit youth to “Fittin”fit in sports for development and performance excellence. Box 1 summarizes the key shifts in the future direction for physical education and sports that have informed this policy.

3.1: Stakeholder Mission, Vision and Goal Statements

3.1.1: Ministry of EducationMissionThe mission of the Ministry of Education is to provide relevant education to all Ghanaians at all levels to enable them to acquire skills that will assist them to develop their potential, to be productive, to facilitate poverty reduction and to promote socio-economic growth and national development.

VisionThe vision is to use quality education delivery to accelerate socio economic development through the following action plan:

1. Expanding access to education at all level of education 2. Providing and improving infrastructural facilities 3. Raising the quality of teaching and learning for effective outcomes 4. Making education more relevant to national goals and aspiration by focusing on vocational

and technical education 5. Making tertiary education more cost effective.

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Box 1: Shifts in Paradigm for Health-Optimizing Physical Education & Sports Excellence Focusing on physical activity in physical education promotes healthy and

productive citizens Active health and healthy lifestyle play a key role in ensuring excellence in

sports Sports is an industry on its own that contributes to economic

development Health-optimizing physical education and sports for development are

pre-requisites for sports performance excellence


GoalThe goal of the Ministry is to provide relevant and quality education for all Ghanaians especially the disadvantaged to enable them acquire skills, which will make them functionally literate and productive to facilitate poverty alleviation and promote the rapid socio-economic growth of the country.

National Inspectorate Board

MissionThe mission is to provide independent external evaluation of the quality and standards in basic and second cycle schools in the country, both public and private.

VisionThe vision is to provide diagnosis of what a school must do to improve student performance.

GoalThe goal is to visit schools focusing on:

1. The quality of leadership and management in the school2. The quality of teaching and learning3. The standards of academic achievement4. The academic, physical, and recreational facilities available5. The values emphasized and taught6. The parental and community involvement in the school

3.1.2: Ministry of Youth & SportsMissionThe mission is to create an enabling environment for effective development of the youth and sports sectors through policy formulation, co-ordination, monitoring and evaluation and the facilitation of the provision of facilities.

VisionThe vision is to enhance national consciousness of the youth through effective mobilization, empowerment, education and training. It also envisions a sustained and systematic development and promotion of approved and recognized sports at both the national and international levels to foster cohesion, enhance health fitness, and promote friendship with the community of nations.

GoalThe goal is to ensure adequacy for sports facilities and to foster national integration, health and self-discipline through sports.

3.1.3: Ministry of HealthMissionThe mission is to contribute to socio-economic development and wealth creation by promoting health and vitality, ensuring access to quality health, population and nutrition services for all people living in Ghana and promoting the development of a local health industry.


VisionThe vision of the health sector is to have a healthy population for national development.

GoalThe goal of the health sector within the current Sector Medium Term Development Plan (2010 to 2013) is to ensure a healthy and productive population that continues to reproduce itself safely. The goal of the Ministry is to improve the health status of all people living in Ghana through effective and efficient policy formulation, resource mobilization, monitoring and regulation of delivery of health care by different health agencies.

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) PolicyVisionThe vision of NCD Prevention and Control is to create a healthy nation that lives longer with optimal physical and mental health.

MissionThe mission is to contribute to reducing avoidable NCD-related morbidity and mortality through health promotion, provision of enabling environment, strengthening of health systems, and provision of health resources, partnerships and empowerment of communities.

GoalThe goal of the Ghana NCDs policy is to ensure that the burden of NCDs is reduced to the lowest possible level as to render it of little public health or clinical consequences. This will involve reducing avoidable morbidity and premature mortality related to major NCDs

Physical Activity in Public Health Task Force (PAPHTF)VisionThe vision of PAPHTF is to facilitate the creation of a healthy nation that lives longer with optimal physical and mental health.

MissionThe mission is to advance the practices in physical activity centers in the country in ways that contribute to reducing avoidable NCD-related morbidity and mortality through integration of public health & physical activity and facilitation of enabling environment for partnerships and empowerment of physical activity centers and communities.

GoalThe goal of the PAPHFT is to ensure that the burden of physical inactivity is reduced to the lowest possible level as to render it of little public health or clinical consequences. This will enhance the health of the citizenry, sports excellence and national productivity.

3.2: Persistent Links between Stakeholders’ VisionsIn order to extract a proper vision for this School Physical Education & Sports Policy, a number of stakeholders’ visions were contrasted. In contrasting the visions, it became abundantly clear that they all emphasize Optimized Health. For example, the Ministry of Health, the Non-Communicable Diseases Policy and the Physical Activity in Public Health Task Force all noted a vision to develop a healthy population; Ministry of Youth and Sports envisions enhancing health fitness: while the Ministry of Education and the National Inspectorate Board envisions improving performance. As noted earlier, they all speak to Optimized Health.


Thus, the vision this School Physical Education and Sports Policy captures the Optimized Health Shared Vision and expressed in subsection (4.1) and (4.2) in section (4) in this policy.

4: New Physical Education & Sports Mission, Vision and Goal Statements

4.1: New Physical EducationVision The vision is to teach physical activity in physical education to optimize health for national development and sports excellence

MissionThe mission is to provide the youth with physical activity opportunities in school physical education classes and outside of regular school classes

GoalThe goal is to ensure that school physical education provides opportunities for students to:

1. Demonstrate competence in fundamental and complex bodily movements necessary to perform a variety of physical activities for the purpose of expending energy and proficient performance

2. Demonstrate Knowledge of public health benefits in involvement in physical activity in physical education

3. Demonstrate knowledge of the implications and benefits of regenerative health, nutrition, and mother and child care principles in physical education

4. Participate in regular physical activity at 50% of MVPA each session 5. Build, grow and maintain a health-optimizing level of physically fitness6. Appreciate the values of physical activity and its contributions to a healthy lifestyle

4.2: Sports ExcellenceVisionThe vision is to teach and coach sports for healthy nation, national development and performance excellence

MissionThe mission is to foster development of youth sports through effective teaching and and coaching and organization of hierarchical competitions to unearth excellence in sports performance

GoalThe goal is to ensure that school sports provide opportunities for students to:

1. Become sports entrepreneurs2. Become healthy and productive citizens3. Develop social competence4. Become academically sound sportspersons.


5: Guiding Principles

The evidence-based practice successes of this policy shall be achieved through the development of a combination of policies, standards, programs and investments that are underpinned by the following guiding principles;

[1.] The physical education and sports sector is more than physical education personnel who have abscondedabandoned their role as physical activity teachers and primarily coaching sports in schools.

1.[2.] Physical education and sports in school is multi-dimensional in nature and require clear definition of roles and partnerships

2.[3.] Appropriate considerations will be given to health and safety and safe-guarding of children 3.[4.] Program design and development will;

1. be majority physical activity-based to optimize health for active living in physical education

2. recognize the role of exercise medicine for coaches and sports excellence3. as noted in “1” and “2” above, consider the establishment of “Physical Activity

Departments” in schools for clear definition of job expectations for the teacher of physical education and the coach for sports excellence.

4. reinforce the continuum of optimizing health in physical education for sports excellence

5. be prioritized to ensure maximum gains in both active physical education and sports excellence sectors, for the limited resources

4.[5.] Planning, resource allocation and implementation will be evidence-based or results-oriented paying attention to equity, efficiency sustainability and accountability for resources and results.

5.[6.] Evidence-based and practice-based physical education should, at least, include documented positive outcomes such as MVPA. Other evidence-based outcomes include;

1. Academic Learning Time-Physical education, 2. Opportunity to Respond3. Exercise Medicine Prescription F=3-days/week; I= LMPA /MVPA; T= 30min/day

for Lifetime4. Reaching Target Heart Rate Zone (Thrz) & Remaining in The Zone for at Least, 10

Continuous Minutes5. And many more…

6: Conceptual Framework

The conceptual framework underlying the development of this policy is derived partly from the National goals for Foundation Sports, Mass Sports and Sports for Excellence. At the center of these goals is the emphasis on the importance of childhood physical activities on sports performance in foundation sports. As outlined in the National Sports Policy (1994), Foundation sports are the informal playful activities and physical education in schools, which go to enrich the movement experience of children. Put differently, Health-Optimizing Physical Education (HOPE) will go to enrich Sports Performance Excellence (SPE) through various forms of playful activities in early childhood. Additionally, the conceptual framework underlying the development of this policy is derived from the New Physical Education, which adopts public health goals with emphasis on public health importance in physical education. At the core of this framework is the theme of this policy- Optimizing Health for Sports Excellence

The fundamental hypothesis is that by promoting physical activity in physical education, good nutrition, fighting physical inactivity, preventing non-communicable diseases and injuries, and


optimizing health, the country can make savings on resources otherwise spent on treating preventable and avoidable diseases. At the same time improved physical activity status and nutritional status promotes intellectual capacity in students, both of which are needed for schooling success and sports excellence.


CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR SPORTS & PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT

FinancingCapacity

DevelopmentGovernance &

Partnerships

OPTIMIZING HEALTH FOR SPORTS EXCELLENCE

Prevention of NCDs


7: The National Physical Education and Sports Directorate (NPESD)

7.1: Establishment of the National Physical Education and Sports DirectorateThere is established by this policy a body known as “The National Physical Education & Sports Directorate” otherwise referred in this document as “The National Directorate”

7.2: The Objects and Functions of the National Directorate7.2.1: The Objects of the National Directorate are:

1. to integrate sports and physical activity into education so that the educational experience of students shall optimize their health for national development as well as ensure excellence in both sports and academics

2. to ensure health and safety and safe-guarding policies and places for pupils and students

3. to encourage the private sector to contribute to the funding of physical education and sports

4. to encourage increased participation in physical activity in physical education classes5. to promote healthy lifestyle for sports excellence6. to promote and collate the activities of its organs

7.2.2: The functions of the National Directorate are:1. to advise the Minister in relation to physical education and sports excellence2. to establish, manage, develop and maintain facilities for the purpose of the Directorate,3. to advise the Minister on health and safety issues with regards to physical education and

sports.4. to co-ordinate various levels of physical education and sports in the country,5. to oversee and monitor the implementation of policies that ensure child protection,

gender equity and equal opportunity in physical education and sports.6. to disburse financial assistance as appropriate for the development of optimum health

and sports excellence in the country7. to undertake research and development related to physical activity and sports8. to perform any other functions that are incidental to the attainment of its objects.

7.3: The Composition of the National DirectorateThe Directorate set-up shall include:

1. Chief Executive Officer 2. Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Physical Education3. Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Sports4. Administrative Secretary5. Financial Secretary6. Public Relations Officer7. Health and Safety Compliance Officer

The President acting in consultation with the Council of State shall appoint the Chief Executive Officer of the directorate. The Chief Executive Officer will then recruit members.

8: The National Physical Education and Sports Board (NPESB)

8.1: Establishment of the National Physical Education and Sports BoardThe governing body of the National Physical Education and Sports Directorate is a Board consisting of:

1. a Chairperson2. a Chief Executive Officer appointed under sub-section (12.2) in section (12)

Reginald Ocansey, 09/27/13,

Should we change the Minister designation to Director General of Education? The common view of the group is that the designation should be the Director General of Education. However, the policy formulator is the Minister of Education. What do you think?


Similar to the existing federation. The use of the “board” appears to be more appropriate


[3.] one representative of the Ministry responsible for sports not below the rank of distinguished a Director

3.[4.] one representative of the Ministry responsible for health and not below the rank of a Director

4.[5.] one representative of the Ministry responsible for local government and not below the rank of a Director

5.[6.] one representative from the Ghana Olympic Committee6.[7.] one representative of the Ministry of Finance not below the rank of a Director7.[8.] one representative each of Basic Education and Second Cycle schools knowledgeable

in physical education and sports from the public, private and international schools, 8.[9.] one representative from the Nation Association of Sports Academies9.[10.] one representative from Persons With Disability 10.[11.] one representative from Sports For Development[12.] the Administrative Secretary who shall be the Ssecretary to the Board11. one woman representative

8.2: Disqualification for Membership1. A person is not qualified to be appointed to the Board if that person:

1. has been criminally convicted. 2. having been declared as an insolvent or a bankrupt under the law in the Republic or

any other country3. is adjudged to be a person of unsound mind

8.3: Tenure of Office[1.] A member of the Board, other than the Secretary GeneralChief Executive Officer-

1. shall hold office for a period of four years,2. may resign from office by writing addressed to the Chairperson who shall

communicate that information to the Minister1.[2.] A member of the Board other than the Chief Executive Officer may be removed from office

if the President is satisfied that it is in the public interest to do so2.[3.] Where the office of a member of the Board becomes vacant the Secretary of the Board

shall notify the Minister and the body responsible for the nomination of the vacancy[4.] Where the vacancy occurs, the President may appoint a person to fill the vacancy[5.] A person appointed by virtue of subsection (43), shall hold office for the unexpired term of

the previous holder’s term of office3.[6.] Where a member of the Board is incapacitated by reason of absence from the Republic or

illness or any other sufficient cause from the performance of functions, the Chief Executive Officer shall inform the Minister who shall notify the President for the appointment of a person to act in the place of that member until the incapacity has terminated or until the expiry of the term of office whichever occurs first.

8.4: Meetings of the Board1. The Board shall meet at least once every three months for the dispatch of business at the

times and places, appointed by the chairperson2. The Chairperson shall at the request in writing of not less than one third of the membership

of the Board convene an extra ordinary meeting of the Board at a place and time determined by the Chairperson.

3. The Chairperson shall preside at the meetings of the Board and in the absence of the Chairperson; a person elected by the members present from among their number shall preside.

4. The quorum at a meeting of the Board is nine.


Should there be a vice chairperson? Should the vice-chair be elected from among the board members? If so, we should craft a statement to reflect that.


delete


[5.] Questions proposed at a meeting of the Board shall be determined by a simple majority of members present and voting and, in the event, of an equality of votes, the person presiding shall have a costing casting vote.

5.[6.] The Board may co-opt a person to act as an adviser at any of its meetings, but a person co-opted is not entitled to vote at the meeting on a matter for decision by the Board.

6.[7.] The validity of a proceeding of the Board shall not be affected by a vacancy among its members or by a defect in the appointment of any of them.

7.[8.] A member of the Board who is directly or indirectly interested in a matter being considered or dealt with by the Board shall disclose the nature of the interest at a meeting of the Council and shall not take part in any deliberation or decision of the Board with respect to the matter.

8.[9.] A member who fails to disclose an interest under sub-section (8) is liable to be removed from the Board.

8.5: Committees of the Board1. The Board shall appoint the Committees, which it considers necessary for assisting it in the

performance of its functions under this Policy.2. A Committee may comprise persons who are members of the Board or any other persons or

both and shall perform the functions assigned to it by the Board

8.6: Remuneration payable to members of the BoardA member of the Board, a person co-opted under subsection (6) of section (8.4) and a member of a Committee of the Board may be paid the remuneration approved by the Minister in consultation with the Minister responsible for Finance.

9: Regional School Physical Education & Sports Councils

9.1: Establishment of Regional School Physical Education & Sports Councils1. There shall be established a Regional School Physical Education & Sports Council in respect

of each Region. 2. A Regional Physical Education & Sport Council is a branch of the National Directorate but

shall be attached to the office of the Regional Coordinating Council.

9.2: Composition of Regional School Physical Education & Sports CouncilsThe Regional Committee shall consist of

1. A chairperson, recruited by the Directorate 2. The Regional Physical Education & Sports Coordinator3. The Regional Sports Organizer from the National Sports Authority4. One member nominated by the Regional Minister5. One representative from the Regional Health Directorate6. One representative from the Regional Association of Sports Academies7. One representative of each from Basic Education and Second Cycle Schools from the

public, private and international schools sports, Persons With Disability and Sports For Development

9.3: Functions of Regional School Physical Education & Sports CouncilsThe functions of a Regional Physical Education and Sports Council are:

1. To promote, encourage and develop physical activity for health and sports throughout the Region

2. To co-ordinate the activities of the district units within the Region,


3. To co-ordinate the activities of the district units within the Region in relation to the care, maintenance and provision of facilities in the Region,

4. To prepare and submit to the National Directorate returns on physical education and sports activities in the Region,

5. To exercise any other functions assigned to it by the National Directorate.6. To promote health and safety and safe-guarding environments for children.

9.4: Tenure of Office1. The members of a Regional Physical Education & Sports council other than the Regional

Physical Education & Sports Coordinator, shall hold office for a period of four years2. A member may, by writing addressed to the chairman of the Committee resign from

office[3.] A person ceasing to hold office as a member of a Regional Physical Education & Sports

council is eligible to serve again a second term only on a Regional Physical Education & Sports council.

10: District School Physical Education & Sports Units

10.1: District School Physical Education & Sports Units (DPESU)1. There shall be established a District School Physical Education & Sports Units (DPESU)

within each Region.2. A DPESU is a branch of the Regional Physical Education and Sports Council and is a part of

the Education, Youth and Sports Department of the District/Municipal Assembly

10.2: Composition of District School Physical Education & Sports UnitsThe District Units shall consist of

1. a chairperson2. the District Physical Education & Sports Coordinator3. the person in-charge of the Education, Youth and Sports Department of the

District/Municipal Assembly4. two other members nominated from the district5. One representative of each from Basic Education and Second Cycle Schools from the


6. One representative from the District Health Directorate.

10.3: Functions of District School Physical Education & Sports Units The functions of a District School Physical Education & Sports Unit are:

1. Assist in formulation and implementation of physical education and sports policies, programs and activities of the District/Municipal Assembly

2. Co-ordinate the preparation of annual physical education and sports budget of the District Assembly

3. Facilitate preparation of reports on the implementation of policies and matters relating to physical activity and sports to the District Chief Executive in accordance with a reporting format provided by the Assembly

4. Perform any other functions that are incidental to optimizing health for sports excellence and the development of a productive citizenry

10.4: Tenure of Office1. The members of a District Physical Education & Sports unit other than the District

Physical Education & Sports Coordinator, shall hold office for a period of four years.

Page 32


2. A member may, by writing addressed to the chairperson of the Unit resign from office[3.] A person ceasing to hold office as a member of a District Physical Education & Sports

unit is eligible to serve again a second term only on a District Physical Education & Sports unit.

11: Zonal School Physical Education & Sports Committees

11.1: Zonal Physical Education & Sports Committees (ZPESC) 1. There shall be established Zonal Physical Education and Sports Committees within

each District.2. A Zonal Physical Education and Sports Committee is a branch of a District Physical

Education and Sports Unit.

11.2: Composition of Zonal Physical Education & Sports CommitteesThe Zonal Committees shall consist of

1. A chairperson2. The zonal physical education & sports coordinator3. Two other members nominated from the zone4. One representative of each from Basic Education and Second Cycle Schools from the


11.3: Functions of Zonal School Physical Education & Sports Committees The functions of a Zonal School Physical Education & Sports Committee are,

1. Implementation of physical education and sports policies, programs and activities of the District/Municipal Assembly

2. Preparation of annual physical education and sports budget of the Zonal Committee3. Preparation of reports on the implementation of policies and matters relating to

physical activity and sports to the District Chief Executive in accordance with a reporting format provided by the Assembly

4. Perform any other functions that are incidental to optimizing health for sports excellence and the development of a productive citizenry

5. Implementation of health and safety and safe-guarding measures on physical education.

11.4: Tenure of Office1. The members of a Zonal Physical Education & Sports committee other than the Zonal

Physical Education & Sports Coordinator, shall hold office for a period of four years2. A member may, by writing addressed to the chairperson of the Committee resign from

office[3.] A person ceasing to hold office as a member of a Zonal Physical Education & Sports

committee is eligible to serve a second term only serve again on a Zonal Physical Education & Sports committee.


12: Administration

12.1: Secretariat There shall be established a secretariat of the National Directorate headed by the Chief Executive Officer through which, subject to this Policy, the day-to-day administration of the affairs of the National Directorate shall be carried out.

12.2: Chief Executive Officer and Other Staff 1. There shall be an officer of the National Directorate to be known as the Chief Executive

Officer.2. The Chief Executive Officer shall be appointed by the President in accordance with

article 195 of the constitution and shall hold office upon the terms and conditions stated in the Instrument of Appointment.

3. The Chief Executive Officer may recommend the appointment of officers and other employees as are necessary for the effective performance of the functions of the Directorate.

4. Other public officers may be transferred or seconded to the Directorate.5. The Directorate may engage the services of experts and consultants who it considers

necessary on the recommendation of the Secretary General.6. The President may in accordance with Article 195 (2) of the Constitution, delegate the

power of appointment under the Act.

12.3: Functions of the Secretary GeneralThe secretary general is responsible for

[1.] the day-to-day administration and business of the National Directorate;[2.] the implementation of the policies and decisions of the Board;[3.] the organization and control of the employees of the National Directorate including

transfers and postings of employees and the maintenance of efficiency among the employees;

[4.] liaising between the Board and the Minister with a view to ensuring effective implementation of this Policy; and

[5.] the performance of any other functions assigned by the Board.

12.43: Functions of the Administrative Secretary1. The Administrative Secretary shall operate under the direction of the Chief Executive

Officer.

12.54: Internal Auditor1. The National Directorate shall have an internal auditor who shall be appointed in

accordance with the Internal Audit Agency Act, 2003 (Act 658).2. The Internal Auditor shall be responsible to the Chief Executive Officer in the

performance of his/her functions.3. The Internal Auditor shall prepare and submit to the Chief Executive Officer as soon as

practicable after the end of each month a report on the internal audit work carried out during that month.

4. The Internal Auditor shall make in the report the observations that are necessary as to the conduct of the financial affairs of the National Directorate during the month to which the report relates.

5. In addition to the requirements of subsection (3), the Internal Auditor shall prepare and forward quarterly a summary of reports prepared under subsection (3) to the Director-General of the Internal Audit Agency and to the Board.


6. This section shall be read and construed as one with the Internal Audit Agency Act 2003 (Act 658) and where there is a conflict that Act shall prevail.


13: Financial Provisions

13.1: Corporate CommitteeIn accordance with subsection (8.5) in section (8) of this policy, there shall be established a Corporate Committee by the Board to enable it to carry out its objects effectively.

1. Sponsors and Donors shall constitute the Corporate Committee of the Board2. The objective is to involve different institutions and stakeholders who are willing to

donate monies, material resources and logistics to advice on a common objective on improving physical education and health for children.

3. Also to foster effective collaborative partnership with private sector, NGOs and communities

13.2: Funds of the National Physical Education and Sports Directorate1. The funds of the National Directorate include:

1. Money provided by Government (Capitation Grant and absorbed fees)2. The loans granted to the National Directorate by a banking institution,3. The moneys accruing to the National Directorate in the course of the

performance of its functions under this Policy including proceeds of matches and competitions,

4. Gifts,5. Grants to the Directorate6. Sponsorships summed up by the Corporate Committee

2. The moneys received by or on behalf of the National Directorate shall be deposited to the credit of the National Directorate in the Bank of Ghana.

13.3: Borrowing Powers1. Subject to article 181 of the Constitution, the National Directorate may obtain loans

and any other credit facilities from the banks approved by the Minister responsible for Finance.

2. The Minister responsible for Finance may, or on behalf of the Government, guarantee the performance of an obligation or undertaking of the National Directorate under this section and may prescribe the maximum sums of money, which the National Directorate may borrow under this section.

13.4: Budget of the National DirectorateThe Chief Executive Officer shall not later than three months before the end of the financial year submit to the Minister responsible for Finance through the Minister detailed budget of the National Directorate for the ensuing year.

13.5: Financial YearThe financial year of the National Directorate shall be the same as that of the Government.

13.6: Accounts and Audit1. The National Directorate shall keep proper books of accounts and proper records in

relation to the accounts in the form presented by the Controller and Accountant General.

2. The Auditor-General shall audit the books and accounts of the National Directorate each year.

3. The Auditor-General shall, not later than the 30th September in each year, forward to the Minister a copy of the audited accounts of the National Directorate for the financial year immediately preceding and the Auditor-General’s report on the audit.


Seek further clarification if this is necessary???? Can the National Directorate be empowered to exercise borrowing powers???


14: Capacity Development for School Physical Education & Sports

The objective of this component of the policy is to strengthen the capacity for school sports excellence and health-optimizing physical education by investing and mobilizing resources, allocating them equitably and ensuring their efficient utilization.

Capacity as used in this document refers to the stock of capabilities available to the school physical education and sports system. It includes a mix of technical, managerial, entrepreneurial and logistical capacities required to promote HOPE and Sports Excellence. Capacity development will emphasize:

14.1: Measures Guidelines for Human Resource DevelopmentHuman resources under this policy include all human capacity involved in developing, managing or supporting health-optimizing physical education and sports excellence. In the light of this, the following policy measures shall are proposed:

1. Definition of the distinct roles of the physical education teacher and the distinct role of the sports coach. These mutually exclusive roles should be defined clearly and separately and incorporated into school physical education and sports programs.

2. Shifting the focus for the production of future sports coaches and physical education teachers to focus more on exercise behavior analysis and prescription and other health-optimizing physical education content knowledge

3. Professional development opportunities to sharpen their skills in fitness training, exercise behavior analysis and prescription and other health-optimizing physical activity content knowledge

4. Shifting the focus for the production of exercise science and sports medicine practitioners to focus more on exercise behavior analysis and prescription and other health-optimizing physical education content knowledge for sports performance excellence

5. Increase in the production, recruitment and retention of a new cadre of Health-Optimizing Physical Activity & Sports Excellence (HOPASE) workers to support the theme of this policy- that is to optimize health for sports excellence

6. District/Municipal Assemblies (in collaboration with the National Directorate), shall fully support the policy theme by consulting and collaborating with local National Sports Authority coaches and administrative personnel, local recreation sports supervisors, coaches and administrative personnel the National Tourism Authority (Division in-charge-of recreation sports and physical activity), and health personnel from the District Level Health centers and Medical Units

14.2: Measures Guidelines for Sports and Physical Education InfrastructureThe sports, physical education, recreation and dance infrastructure includes all of the health optimizing for sports excellence infrastructure, not just the services on school campuses. Policy measures for sports and physical education infrastructure include but not limited to the following:

1. Investment in the construction of sports and recreation centers in the districts, attached to schools or stand alone, to fill gaps in access to participation in physical activity, particularly in the deprived and hard to reach areas and in collaboration with the local government sector, sports sector, health sector, and tourism sector to provide and improve access.


2. Ensuring of sufficient financing for priority renovations and planned preventive maintenance of existing school sports and physical education facilities, district level recreation sports and fitness facilities. These facilities are not just those in the education sector, but also, those in the health, tourism (recreation division), local government, and sports sectors

3. Advocate increase in private sector investments in health-enhancing facilities and local recreation sports and fitness facilities

4. All facilities and infrastructure should be made disability-friendly

14.3: Measures Guidelines for Sports and Physical Education PracticesPhysical education, recreation and dance programs should focus on optimizing-health and or sports excellence. Such programs must ensure systematic growth and age-appropriate sports participation that meets the standards for ethical and morally sound participation in sports. The policy measures are therefore:

1. Strengthening and/or introducing systems for continuous monitoring and assurance of quality, efficacy and safety of exercise prescriptions

2. Introduce classification, recognition and award structure that will ensure age-appropriate participation in sports across competition levels

15: Implementation Framework

Optimizing Health for Sports Excellence as conceived in this document, coupled with the inter-dependent sectoral relationships described. It is clear that attaining the goals and maintaining the standards in this policy extends beyond the purview of the Ministry of Education and its agencies. Other Ministries, Departments and Agencies have major roles to play to achieve the health and sports excellence benefits derivable from physical activity. The Ministry of Education will therefore provide leadership in mobilizing support for health-optimizing physical education and for sports excellence as well as sports for development from the many players within the inter-dependent network of other ministries, departments and agencies, civil society and the private sector.

15.1: The Ministry of Education and AgenciesThe Ministry of Education and its agencies are together responsible for the formulation of education sector policies, provision of quality education and the regulation of activities in the education sector.

The Ministry of Education translates government policies on education into sector policies to guide implementation by the agencies. It is also responsible for monitoring the implementation of such policies from a sector-wide perspective. To ensure effective implementation of the education sector policy, the Ministry of Education shall:

1. Mobilize resources and ensure that these are allocated in accordance with the national priorities for sports excellence and quality education of the physical that supports public health

2. Set up a strategic initiative fund, in consultation with the Ministry of Finance, to support cross-sectoral implementation of initiatives aimed at optimizing health for sports excellence.

15.2: Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation1. A participatory planning process involving the corporate board, sports for development

board and the relevant sectors and stakeholders will be instituted. As part of this process, the Ministry of Education will collaborate with sector to develop a harmonized and developmentally appropriate multi-sectoral plans that respond to the theme and challenges in this policy. Such plans will derive from the mandates of each sector, that


relate to health-enhancing, recreation and dance, and sports for development and excellence. As much as possible, each sector plan should be financed, in part, from each sector’s own budget.

2. Monitoring of the implementation of the National Schools Sports and Physical Education shall adopt a multiphase approach, ensuring cross-sectoral assessment.

3. Periodic evaluation will be promoted and shall be based on annual review format outline for implementation.

15.3: Donor Participation1. Partnership arrangement for the implementation of the policy will be supported by

strengthening external aid coordination at national and sectoral levels2. Advocate for donors to support health enhancing and sports excellence programs in all

close and remote sectoral areas3. Use a common management arrangement to accumulate funds into the School Physical

Education & Sports accounts. The management arrangement should serve as a guide for donor participation

4. Ensure steps to enhance donor role in monitoring and evaluation of physical education and sports programs.

16: Miscellaneous16.1: Annual Report

1. The Board shall submit to the Minister responsible for Education the report dealing generally with the activities and operations of the National Directorate and the implementation generally of this Policy.

2. The Board shall submit to the Minister of Education any other reports concerning the implementation of this Policy that the Minister of Education may in writing request.

16.2: Directions by the Minister of EducationThe Minister of Education, who shall be the Chairperson of the “Cross-ministerial Coordinating Committee” may give directions in writing to the Board on matters of policy and the Board shall be bound to comply with the directions.

16.3: Officers of the Authority are Public OfficersFor the purposes of this Policy or any other enactments, the employees of the National Directorate are Public Officers.

16.4: Regulations1. The Minister of Education may, by legislative Instrument make regulations for the purposes

of giving effect to the principles contained in this Policy.2. Without prejudice to subsection (1), the Regulations may

1. provide for the registration of school sports for excellence students;2. provide for the prohibition or regulating the use of any emblem, logo, design, mark,

symbol or name that is associated with the Directorate; and3. prescribe a penalty for the infringement of a provision of the Regulations as

appropriate.

16.5: StakeholdersBecause our collective survival and socio-economic growth hinges on the health of the citizenry, this policy covers all segments of schooling in Ghana including Private Schools, International Schools and Public Schools. It also covers institutions of higher learning that train personnel and associations that


provide professional development opportunities for personnel. Below is a list of stakeholders associated with this policy and how their roles:

STAKEHOLDER NATURE OF IMPACT/INFLUENCEGES Curricula decisions and alignment

Promote quality learning Ensure youth and children have adequate access to physical education

NSA Facilitate transparent and morally sound recruitment and selection of Olympians etc

Elevation of school sports status and representation in NSA Board and committees

Improve communication and participation of school in NSA activitiesGPAN-Right-to-play-BILD… etc

Building strong partnerships Extending sports opportunities within school or outside of school Enhance capacity of teachers and community coaches

MOLGMMDS

Provide facilities and support local or district physical education and sports Support community-based intervention programs

SPONSORS --Philanthropists-Corporate Bodies-Development Partners

Provide financial and material support Foster collaboration between school sports and corporate sponsors Fulfill social responsibility Raise sports profile Help in the development of infrastructure

TRAINERS Prepare instructors who can teach physical activity to optimize health Prepare coaches to understand exercise medicine and capable of yielding

performance excellence. Train fitness trainers and sports medicine specialists to support school sports

MOHMOYSMOEGOC

Encourage and financially support youth to undergo training in sports coaching and/or fitness training so they can work in community fitness centers or work as coaches in schools

MOH- Establish fitness centers within medical facilities in the districts to facilitate youth participation in regular physical activity after school (this can be achieved jointly with MOT recreation facilities and programs)

… in collaboration with GHS &GES infuse physical activity counseling in the School Health Education Program

Enforce policy implementationMOGCSPWAC Promote the welfare of women and children

Encourage and financially support youth to undergo training in sports coaching and/or fitness training so they can work in community fitness centers or work as coaches in schools

MOT Develop recreational center in communities or within schools and/or near school location

Train youth to supervise recreation program in communities- Promote youth employment and empowerment

MEDIA Dissemination of performance records Promotion of competitions Helping academic and professional sports recruiters to obtain access to

competitions and performance records

16.6: Principal Areas of ActionThe focus, concerns and challenges in the Physical Education and Sports Excellence Sector are to be addressed through simultaneous action in seven (7) principal areas:

1. Establishing a National Physical Education and Sports Directorate (NPESD), 1. Ensuring good Governance for School Sports and in alignment with national sports

Governance


2. Ensuring good Governance for School Physical Education and in alignment with national expectations for healthy life and sports excellence

2. Establishing a National Physical Education and Sports Board (NPESB),3. Establishing a National Physical Education and Sports Corporate Committee (NPESCC),4. Establishing Physical Activity Departments in Schools (PAD).

1. Designate a clear Physical Education Unit 2. Designate a clear Sports & Recreation Unit.3. Coordinate data from Sports For Development initiatives

5. Investing in capacity development for the Physical Education and Sport Sector. This means that;

1. Teacher training institutions must revise their teacher preparation curricula to place emphasis on the public health benefits associated with involvement in physical activity

2. Train and deploy coaches to foster sports excellence practices in various disciplines in schools

3. Recognize the distinct roles of “Active Physical Education Teachers”, Sports For Development ,Teachers/Coaches and Sports Excellence Coaches

6. Promoting a local recreation sports club or association outside of school7. Ensuring sustainable and equitable financing

Based on the seven principal areas of action identified and the need to accelerate progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, the Ministry of Education needs to collaborate with the Ministry of Health to give the following programs greater emphasis and additional resources to achieve the health-optimizing physical education objectives.

1. Reducing risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases such as obesity, physical inactivity or lack of exercise and poor eating habits

2. Promoting good nutrition across lifespan3. Forging stronger, integrated, effective, equitable and accountable physical education and

sports systems.

16.7: InterpretationIn this Policy, unless the context otherwise requires,

1. “National Directorate” refers to the national secretariat of the National Physical Education and Sports Directorate by Section (7)

2. “Exercise” Refers to prescribed physical activity;3. “Board” means the governing body of the Directorate;4. “District” Means the area of authority of a District Assembly;[5.] “Minister” means the Minister responsible for Sportseducation;5.[6.] “Regulations” means Regulations under the Policy;6.[7.] “Chief Executive Officer” personnel appointed under Section 19 through which, subject to

this Policy, the day-to-day administration of the affairs of the National Directorate shall be carried out.

7.[8.] “Sports” refers to institutionalized forms of play and physical activity. It is governed by rules, regulations and rituals.

8.[9.] “Physical Activity” refers to bodily movements initiated by the muscles and bones in the body and requires energy expenditure

9.[10.] “Physical Education” refers to the allocated period(s) on the school timetable for physical activity for the purpose of optimizing health for sports excellence

10.[11.] “Private School” includes those that are designated as international, sports academy or private school


16.8 Examples of Incidental Functions of the National Physical Education and Sports Directorate (NPESD) - Reference- Section (7), subsection (7.2.2.7) - Pertaining to Incidental Functions

The other functions that are incidental to the attainment of its objects include but not limited to the following:

1. Develop a constitution and guidelines to govern school sports development and sports for development.

2. Propose legislation to deal with sports problems. 3. Interpret legislation adopted by the membership. 4. Establish a Sports Medical Unit (SMU) to

1. Periodically review Physical Activity Status, Nutritional Status, and Energy Expenditure Status of school sportspersons, and to treat and prevent sports injuries.

2. Provide general health screening for students5. Establish a Counseling Unit to help students balance their academic, social and sports

experiences.6. Establish a Drug and Ethics Unit to ensure the highest levels of integrity and sportsmanship. 7. Promote ALL educational sports through planned activities of the National Directorate. In

addition to general public relations activities, National Directorate will publish News and other publications on behalf of its members.

8. Compile and distribute various sports statistics. 9. Maintain committees to write and interpret playing rules in all sports.10. Conduct research as a way to find solutions to educational sports problems. These efforts

will include surveys about academics, postseason events, sports and recreational facilities, sports injuries and safety, playing seasons, the cost of school sports, and the effects of participation on the student-sportspersons.

11. Promote and participate in national/international sports planning and competition through membership in the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), National Sports Authority (NSA) etc.

12. Sanction postseason competition 13. Support community sports for development programs

1. Organize sports outreach programs to address community challenges

16.9: Other Functions of District Assembly and Zonal Units1. advise on the

1. appointment of a District Physical Education & Sports Organizer2. appointment, discipline, posting and transfer of personnel for public, physical

education and sports organizations and institutions in the district2. collection and dissemination of evidence and practice-based data and other

information in the district3. advise the Assembly on all matters relating to physical activity and sports development

in the District;4. facilitate construction, equipping, operating and maintenance of facilities in the

districts;5. assist in organizing activities in the district to participate in mass sports, sports for

excellence and sports for the disabled in the district;6. assist to organize a District Sports Festival at least once a year;7. co-ordinate the selection and preparation of district sportsmen and women for inter

district sports festival and tournaments;8. encourage the establishment of Keep-Fit Clubs in the district;9. facilitate training of community sports leaders and coaches for the Keep-Fit Clubs and

Sports teams in the district;10. participate in research into matters relating to sports in the district;


11. facilitate private sector participation in the provision and management of sports infrastructure in the district;

[12.] assist in the provision of sports equipment. to public sports organizations and activities in the district; and

16.10: Committees of the Board1. The Board shall appoint the Committees, which it considers necessary for assisting it in the

performance of its functions under this Policy.2. A Committee may comprise persons who are members of the Board or any other persons or

both and shall perform the functions assigned to it by the Board

Examples of Committees1. Corporate Committee2. Cross-ministerial Coordinating Committee3. Sports for Development Committee4. Continuous Professional Development Committee5. Eligibility Committee6. Disciplinary Committee7. etc

16.11: Benefits

16.121: School Sports CompetitionsThe National Schools Sports Competition chart in sub-section (16.12.2) of section (16) suggests five

(5) types of competitions across zonal, district, regional, national and international levels. It is highly recommended that the following personnel be attached to school sports to ensure excellence:

1. Sports Medical Unit (SMU) - A SMU is necessary to ensure that our youth are healthy prior to preseason. Eligible players must pass health physical for sports participation. This unit will also ensure a safe environment for play as well prevent and treat sports and exercise injuries

2. Counseling Unit (CU) - The CU is most needed to ensure smooth blending of sports participation and academic demands. Requires the expertise of detached qualified counselors.

16.121.1: Regulations for School Sports Competitions1. Regulations for the conduct of pre-season, in-season and post-season sports in schools

shall be outlined in the National School Sports constitution.1. Time for pre-season preparation should be adequate and in conformity with

exercise medicine and sports medicine principles2. Consider zonal leagues or conference leagues- these should be sponsor-

powered 2. Bye-laws for sectoral relationship must be developed, especially, between the National

Schools Sports Federation and the National Sports Authority in reference to “the school child” international competitions.

3. Ethical age-related problems will minimize, as excelling sportspersons, under this policy, will be named at each competition level, into an ALL-STAR A-TEAM or ALL-STAR B-TEAM.

1. Names will be published (with media support). 2. Proper records will be kept and 3. Student advancement and performance shall be monitored.


16.121.2: School Sports Competitions

NSSC

PSII RL-

PSI DL-

IS ZL-PSIII NI-

PSI IIV-

LEGEND

POST-SEASON IV: INTERATIONAL INVITATIONAL (PSIV-II) o Basic Education o Second Cycle o Persons With Disabilities

POST-SEASON III: NATIONAL INVITATIONAL (PSIII-NI) o Basic Education o Second Cycle o Persons With Disabilities

POST-SEASON II: REGIONAL LEVEL (PSII-RL)o Basic Education Tournament-Public (BEC-Pu)o Basic Education Tournament-Private (BEC-Pr)o Second Cycle Tournament-Public (SCC-Pu)o Second Cycle Tournament-Private (SCC-Pr)o People With Disabilities Tournament-Public (PWDC-Pu)o People With Disabilities Tournament-Private (PWDC-Pr)

POST-SEASON I: DISTRICT LEVEL (PSI-DL)o Basic Education Tournament-Public (BET-Pu)o Basic Education Tournament-Private (BET-Pr)o Second Cycle Tournament-Public (SCT-Pu)o Second Cycle Tournament-Private (SCT-Pr)o People With Disabilities Tournament-Public (PWDT-Pu)o People With Disabilities Tournament-Private (PWDT-Pr)

IN-SEASON ZONAL LEVEL (IS-ZL)o Basic Education League-Public (BEL-Pu)o Basic Education League-Private (BEL-Pr)o Second Cycle League-Public (SCL-Pu)o Second Cycle League-Private (SCL-Pr)o People With Disabilities League-Public (PWDL-Pu)o People With Disabilities League-Private (PWDL-Pr)

National Schools Sports Competitions (NSSC)


16.152: Organs of the National Physical Education & Sports Directorate

NPESD

NPESB

NPESCCNPESPDC

RCsDUsZCs

NATIONAL PE & SPORTS DIRECTORATE (NPESD)o National Physical Education & Sports Board (NPESB)o National Physical Education & Sports Corporate

Committee (NPESCC)o National Physical Education & Sports Professional

Development Committee (NPESPDC) REGIONAL COUNCILS (RCs)

o Basic Education Council-Public (BEC-Pu)o Basic Education Council-Private (BEC-Pr)o Second Cycle Council-Public (SCC-Pu)o Second Cycle Council-Private (SCC-Pr)o People With Disabilities Council-Public (PWDC-Pu)o People With Disabilities Council-Private (PWDC-Pr)o Girls’ Sports Council-Public (GSC-Pu)o Girls’ Sports Council-Private (GSC-Pr)

DISTRICT UNITS (DUs)o Basic Education Unit-Public (BEU-Pu)o Basic Education Unit-Private (BEU-Pr)o Second Cycle Unit-Public (SCU-Pu)o Second Cycle Unit-Private (SCU-Pr)o People With Disabilities Unit-Public (PWDU-Pu)o People With Disabilities Unit-Private (PWDU-Pr)o Girls’ Sports Unit-Public (GSU-Pu)o Girls’ Sports Unit-Private (GSU-Pr)

ZONAL COMMITTEES (ZCs)o Basic Education Committee-Public (BEC-Pu)o Basic Education Committee-Private (BEC-Pr)o Second Cycle Committee-Public (SCC-Pu)o Second Cycle Committee-Private (SCC-Pr)o People With Disabilities Committee-Public (PWDC-Pu)o People With Disabilities Committee-Private (PWDC-Pr)o Girls’ Sports Committee-Public (GSC-Pu)o Girls’ Sports Committee-Private (GSC-Pr)

LEGEND

Governance Structure of the National Schools Sports Federation

The Structure National Schools Physical Education & Sports Governance

national physical education & sports policy for … · web viewafter initial discussions, a...

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