PE investment would tackle obesity epidemic, says TUI

PROPER PE funding would tackle our ‘obesity epidemic’, claim the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI).

The TUI has called on the Department of Education and Science to introduce a sustained multi-annual funding campaign to replace and upgrade PE equipment in second level schools.

TUI president, Tim O’Meara said: “Appropriate, sustained investment in physical education could be returned to the Irish economy a hundred times over by cutting millions off future health budgets.

‘‘Schools are expected by society to play a lead role in promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. PE is one of the key subjects that can achieve this but the resources must be made available in the first instance.”

Education Minister Mary Hanafin recently announced funding of €4,000 for every second level school to upgrade PE equipment.

But the TUI has criticised this: “This meagre provision is far removed from a realistic, multi-annual budget that would help boost the move toward the introduction of a revised PE curriculum.”

The TUI has called for provisions to allow second level schools that need to develop and upgrade their facilities to be able to submit a plan to Department.

A TUI spokesman said: “Schools should also be provided with various working examples and advice on how best to spend the money, depending on the current state of equipment and the particular needs of the school.

‘‘There has been examples in the past where some schools have felt under pressure to purchase certain equipment from ‘agreed lists’ although they did not meet their particular needs. TUI strongly advise against such practice.”

“The so-called obesity epidemic has strong links with socioeconomic disadvantage. Schools in such communities do not have the same opportunity to operate fundraising drives within the local community for PE equipment compared with those schools which operate selective enrolment policies.

‘‘Disadvantaged schools are solely dependent on State provision to replace and improve equipment. When this provision is inadequate, the school and students must simply ‘make do without’. Failure to provide adequate resources for areas such as physical education is but a further example of the inequity that exists within the system,” said Mr O’Meara.