PE at schools depends on good weather, report finds

CHILDREN are unable to take part in physical education (PE) in schools unless the weather is good enough because they have no indoor sports facilities, school inspectors have found.

Two Mayo schools were found by Department of Education inspectors teaching physical education in classrooms, unless the weather is suitable.

“The school has access to no indoor facilities for the teaching of PE. Lessons take place in the schoolyard whenever the weather permits,” states the whole school evaluation report of Bekan National School in Claremorris.

At Muinefliuch National School in Carriganima near Macroom, Co Cork, inspectors found delivery of the PE curriculum is “of necessity, subject to the influence of weather”.

In the same county, it is reported that, for all pupils at Lisavaird Mixed National School near Clonakilty, “physical education features on the programme for all classes but the absence of a school hall limits the work”.

The inspector who visited Scoil Éanna at Bullaun, Loughrea, Co Galway, said that teachers organised a good range of activities to promote physical well-being and fitness, despite implementation of the PE curriculum being limited by a lack of appropriate facilities.

While PE activities have to take place in a small general purpose room or a confined area between the prefabricated units, the 110 pupils can use a grassed area in good weather.

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) said the Government’s underinvestment in facilities which is highlighted in the report proves the need for an annual grant to all schools for PE equipment.

“The Department of Education and Science should determine the PE curriculum, not Met Éireann,” said INTO general secretary John Carr.

The inspectors’ evaluations of how science is being taught in primary schools shows mixed results, though most schools are planning and teaching it well. The subject has only been on the primary curriculum for about five years but most pupils were found to have a good understanding of most areas.

However, some schools had a shortage of appropriate teaching material and one school had difficulty taking advantage of information technology to teach science.

“Its use is limited, management has identified the lack of a broadband facility, dated machines and a limited amount of software as factors that inhibit the further development of this valuable resource,” the inspectors wrote about St Colman’s Boys National School in Kanturk, Co Cork.