Lack of physical education
These include a shortage in facilities and equipment, a paucity of physical education teachers, large class sizes, and budgetary constraints.
[10] In some African countries such as Botswana and Malawi, where children attend school for a minimal amount of time, the budgets allocated for physical education are instead used to concentrate on subjects such as languages and mathematics.
[10] A lack of physical education also arises from cultural views: in parts of Central America (such as the Bahamas) and Asia (such as Pakistan), exercise is seen as a form of leisure that should not be featured in an academic curriculum.
[10] Another example exists in India, where girls are often discouraged from engaging in sports because such activity is viewed as "unfeminine", as is the possibility of them becoming too muscular.
In parts of South America (with the exception of Chile and Colombia), there are no laws that make physical education compulsory: thus, it is omitted from many schools.
[11] For example, in 33 states, students are permitted to be exempt from physical education courses by replacing them with other activities such as marching band practices.
It is important that parents allow their children the full opportunity to participate in both formal and informal sports and promote healthy physical activity levels.
[9] As exercise is known to improve well-being and reduce stress, physical inactivity is correlated with poor psychological health[22] such as an increase of major depression.
[14] Studies suggest that there is a positive correlation between exercise and cognitive function as it can improve memory, attention, and critical thinking skills.
[27] Although Canadian physical education programs are improving significantly, with 61-80% of schools offering a minimum of 150 minutes of physical education classes per week in 2016, and participation levels in organized sport are on the rise, Canadian school programs are ineffective in encouraging healthy habits.
These include sedentary behaviours such as increased screen time averaging 176 minutes a day from TVs and video games to the detriment of active play.
The consultants should check that classes meet the needs of all students irrespective of race, sex, gender, and ability level.
Outside of class hours, CAHPERD recommends that schools provide opportunities for intramural activities and involve parents in the fitness initiative.
In this project, federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Health agreed to focus on three goals: increasing the predominance of nutritious food choices, addressing obesity at an early age, and creating better spaces for children that favour physical activity and healthy eating.
[31] The Childhood Obesity Foundation, a Canadian initiative, has invented the 5-2-1-0 mnemonic to remember the national lifestyle recommendations.
[33] They are projects made in the name of a framework or jurisdictional approach/governmental department that are either targeted at schools, at a community, or in partnership with other organizations or companies.
Nearly 10 million children and adolescents in the United States ages 6–19 are considered overweight because of the lack of physical education in schools.
Throughout the past two decades, federal support for physical education in the public health sector has increased dramatically.
[39] The government has for the most part supported physical education and sport in school, but has often abused it as a political tool which leads to ignoring its importance and the needs of individual students.
[41] In 2007, the European Parliament's Resolution on the Role of Sport in Education helped parliament conclude that physical education is “the only school subject which seeks to prepare children for a healthy lifestyle and focuses on their overall physical and mental development, as well as imparting important social values such as fairness, self-discipline, solidarity, team spirit, tolerance and fair play…” and one of the most important tools for social integration.
