HON. LAISENIA TUITUBOU
Minister for Youth and Sports

The Head Teacher Ratu Filimoni Loco District School and Teachers
Students
Members of the Korovou Community
Ladies and Gentlemen.

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

I am delighted 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.

Starting this year, the Ministry is conducted a review 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 as a key platform that is essential to lay a solid foundation for good health for our people, young and old, male and female, with and without a disability.

Government will provide unwavering support to harness development through sport in Fiji to build social cohesion and to improve our health.

Government, through the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, cannot over-emphasise the need for us Fijians to stay healthy and physically active through our participation in sports and physical activity. This is good for our communities and our economy.

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 this Ratu Filimoni Loco District School ground cost $35,000. I tell you this as I believe in transparency but I also want you to take care of this community asset.

My Ministry has worked to ensure that we provide the best investment in sports development and sports facilities. This was done, of course, with support from the school management and the community – and I thank you for that.

Students, teachers and parents, there is overwhelming evidence demonstrating that increasing physical activity and physical fitness improve academic performance. This requires time in the school day to be 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 positively influenced by physical activity.

Teachers also know that children who participate in vigorous - or moderate-intensity - physical activity benefit the most.

Therefore, of the amount of time allotted for learning, students should be provided some part as 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, respect, team spirit for all young people.

This includes those with special educational needs and disabilities. It is also key to promoting healthy living thus fostering a 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.

Students spend a substantial amount of time at school, in settings that provide safe and convenient programs and facilities to promote physical activity.

I hope you will maintain your sports ground and ensure that it is utilised the fullest for all in the school and the community. I hope it brings you many hours of fun-filled activity as families coming together to enjoy healthy living.

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