Unfit pupils need better PE facilities, parents warn

A SHORTAGE of sports facilities in thousands of primary schools is contributing to a fitness crisis among children, parents warned last night.

A revised PE curriculum is set to be introduced at primary level next year. But more than half of schools in some counties do not have a PE hall or general purposes room and can only arrange PE lessons in dry weather.

Fionnuala Kilfeather, chief executive of the National Parents Council (Primary), said local authorities should also provide more play areas for children, but added that sports facilities in schools must be drastically improved.