Sport helps keep children at school

THE importance of sport in helping children stay at school was stressed by Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe as he tried out his hand against some of the country’s top gaelic games players yesterday.

The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is driving home the message through its sponsorship of 2,000 footballs and 2,000 sliotars for the schools’ sports organisation Cumann na mBunscol.

The slogan Every Day Counts has been printed on each ball for the campaign which was launched in Cork by Mr O’Keeffe.

A former senior footballer for the rebel county, the minister was joined by Cork camogie star Amanda O’Regan, Limerick footballer Jason Stokes and Kerry’s Tomás Ó Sé who is the footballer of the year after helping the Kingdom to last year’s all-Ireland title.

But budding young stars from Scoil Barra in the minister’s hometown of Ballincollig also showed off their skills, many of them learnt at school.

NEWB chief executive Eddie Ward said taking part in sports is something for which children enjoy going to school, part of the board’s goal.

“Our aim is to ensure children attend school for whatever reasons make them happy. If students participate in sports, they are more likely to enjoy their time at school, develop good relationships, learn better and want to attend school more,” he said.

“Learning to compete, being part of a team, coping with success and disappointment and being physically active are all essential elements of every young person’s overall development. Learning through sport can be fun but sport also helps children for life,” said Mr Ward said.

More than 80,000 children miss more than 20 days in class every year, at which point the NEWB must be notified of their regular absence by the school.

Most of the board’s 109 staff work with pupils, their families and teachers to address the causes of their poor attendance.