GEORGE FRANCIS
Director Ministry of Youth and Sports

The Principal Guru Nanak College
Teachers
Students
Community leaders
Invited Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

Bula vinaka, Namaste, Salaam Aleikum and Good morning to you all.

It is an honour to be here this morning and I must acknowledge the efforts take by the school and the community to welcome us.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Government, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, is committed to enhance the development of sport and physical activity in the country. Earlier this year, the Ministry began a review exercise of the National Sports and Physical Activity Policy. Members of the public submitted their thoughts, opinions and suggestions regarding sports development and physical activity, which go hand in hand.

We see the development of sports holistically as physical education, physical activity and sport for both recreation and competitions. It is essential to lay a solid foundation for our people, young and old, male and female, with and without a disability, and Government provides unwavering support to harness development through sport in Fiji. Our young people develop themselves through sporting activity – their teamwork, respect and appreciation for their opposition, humility when they win and lose, their self-confidence as well as their skills. Sports activity assists us to learn better and achieve better results. Sport and physical education are fundamental to physical literacy which supports literacy and numeracy. Sports help to create well-rounded individuals.

Guru Nanak himself was an astute idol. His most radical social teachings denounced the caste system and taught that everyone is equal, regardless of caste or gender. The Ministry promotes such teachings - that sports and sporting facilities should be made available and accessible to all individuals regardless of gender or physical ability or ethnicity. We are all equal and we are all equally important.

Government, through the Ministries of Health and Youth and Sports, cannot over-emphasise the need for us Fijians to stay healthy and physically active – in some cases, we need to get physically active. Through our participation in sports and physical activity, we will stay healthy, which is good for our communities and our economy.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the United Nations Development Program has estimated that non-communicable diseases cost our economy between $200 and $400 million a year. I hope that you will join me in getting fit and eating better so that we can all contribute to reducing our health bill so that can be used on other important issues – better services for disabled persons, extending water and electricity to all households, expanding our economy so that everyone has gainful employment.

I want to reiterate that sports and physical activity are essential to preventing illnesses and combating non-communicable diseases; to promote mental wellbeing; combat bullying; improve academic results as well as build social cohesion. Teachers and schools need to be agents of this change and impress on our young minds the need to stay fit and healthy and adopt this as lifelong learning to promote a healthy lifestyle.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the upgrade of Guru Nanak School grounds has been part of a long list of requests over the years and I am pleased that this is finally being delivered. This upgrade ensured the ground meets required standards and size. It is the commitment of the Ministry to ensure that we provide the best investment in sports development and sports facilities across the country. This was done, of course, with support from the school management and the community – thank you.

I must also commend the school management’s commitment to lift this development to another level. This is what we want – the community empowered to take things forward without waiting for Government.

Students, teachers and parents, there is overwhelming evidence demonstrating that increasing physical activity and physical fitness improve academic performance through time in the school day dedicated to recess, physical education classes, and physical activity in the curriculum. Some academics and researchers have also concluded that mathematics and reading are the subjects that are most influenced positively by physical activity.

Teachers also know that children who participate in vigorous - or moderate - intensity physical activity benefit the most. Therefore, within the time allotted for learning, students should be encouraged to take physical activity breaks that are developmentally, age and ability appropriate.

Physical education gives more opportunities at an early age to develop hand-eye coordination, muscle and skeleton development, balance, team spirit for all young people, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities. It is also key to promoting healthy living thus fostering an active and healthy Fiji.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports promotes school-based sports programs as they can bring out noticeable positive development and behaviour in students. Of course, this is done in partnership with the Ministry of Education.

I hope you will maintain your sports ground and ensure that it is utilised the fullest for the school and the community. I hope it brings you many hours of fun-filled activity as families coming together to enjoy healthy living. I hope to see you here on Friday 29 June 2018 enjoying our National Sports and Wellness Day to the full – a day full of fun and physical activity.

Vinaka vakalevu, Dhanyavad, Shokran and thank you all very much.