Public schools to avail sports facilities for community use

In one of the recent cabinet meetings, the executive was briefed on a move to allow communities, especially youth, to access sport facilities in schools. Different players in the sports field lauded the initiative calling it an excellent move to attract youth, and the community to engage in sports activities. In an interview with The New Times, the Public Relations officer at the Ministry of Education, Juliette Nyiraneza, said that the move was implemented to increase the number and level of young talent development through practice. “Schools are an integral part of the community. As learning institutions, we encourage students and teachers to actively participate in community activities. This will also help in youth’s occupation and behavioural change in youth that may be involved in ill-practices. It will lead to healthy lifestyles and specifically help those who undertake professional sports in different categories.” Nyiraneza also said that the program will be implemented by Ministries of Education, Sports, Infrastructure and Local government to ensure it is successfully implemented. “Decentralised government entities such as districts, sectors and cells, the education sector are represented at each level and they collaboratively work with other institutions to ensure successful implementation of the programme. Public schools and higher learning institutions will avail sports facilities for community use,” she added. This will be impactful to the community in a way that it will upgrade talent detection, healthy lifestyle and reduce drug abuse among the youth. Nyiraneza said, “This will as well help in prevention of non-communicable diseases prevention, anxiety, depression, and other stress-related management. Socially, it will reduce teenage pregnancies and alcohol consumption.” Penciah Umwiza, a senior six student at King David Academy, said it will help them improve their physical and mental lifestyle. “The program will help us gain leadership skills, help our brain power by releasing stress and promote teamwork between us as students and the community at large,” she said. Charlotte Dushabe, a parent, said the program will help children participate in sport activities. “This move will help my daughter and her fellows at school access other sports activities that they don’t have at their school, and I believe it will keep them active physically and mentally,” she said.

News

Public schools to avail sports facilities for community use