Not a very sporting edge

My article in yesterday's The Star.


Monday July 12, 2010


I THINK the people at the Education Ministry have not done their homework if they want to make sports a compulsory component for those wanting to enter public universities.

This is because each school has a different niche for different sports. If a student is inclined towards a certain sport and his school doesn't offer it, how is he going to shine?

What about the physically impaired, obese, thin and tiny students?

Also, does every school have enough qualified teachers or instructors to cater to different sports?

Unlike uniformed bodies, which a large number of students can participate in, competitive sports cannot handle large numbers.

The teachers or instructors simply cannot cope with individual needs in such sports. Under such circumstances, most of the students will not be able to have qualified guidance.

And how are we going to grade them? Will the champions be the only ones to get full marks? How many champions or top athletes can a school produce?

And how many schools can produce top athletes? Rural schools or those in poorer states would be disadvantaged if the proposal is implemented.

It is therefore not fair to have such a condition when some schools have more qualified teachers or instructors and more money.


KC KHOO, Penang.