To incorporate sports into the curriculum, there must deliberate efforts by the management of schools to give adequate attention to sports.
Follwing the exploits of Grange School at the 2020 World School Games in Dubai, the chairperson of the Lagos-based school, Airat Tijani, believes those regulating curriculum in schools, must make efforts to give sports its rightful place in schools.
In terms of school sports, not everyone is meant to be in the classroom that is certain. We also find out that schools are becoming more aware of the opportunity they are going to be given in terms of sports, so some schools are now beginning to implement better sporting activities.
I think the school curriculum has to be changed in order to change the mindset of those that are scouting for potential. Also there must be recognition for those schools that are actually doing well in sports,” she said.
Tijani, whose interest in sports was fanned by the enthusiasm of her wards said: “Well my journey into finding an interest in sports started when my son had a bit of flair in swimming, I realized that he did not enjoy it initially. I knew people were swimming in the school but he was not really part of the swim team, so when I realized that my son started enjoying swimming and he was progressing and I said maybe this is something we can actually develop. I never once thought I would be a mother of a potential sports champion in school but when I saw he had the capacity to do it I supported him. Not everyone is academics inclined and I have always been passionate about finding what you enjoy and building it.
For parents, she said: “The reality is that quite a number of schools are not structured in sporting activities. If a parent sees that their child has interest in one sports or the other, that parent should give them all the support and exposure to external competition. Parents should not always rely on the school because the school already has a structure in place.
On the impact of sports, the PTA chairperson said: “There is something unique about people who are very successful. They try and fall several times but they never ever give up. You can’t teach someone that but he or she must go through it. My son was never always the best in swimming but he has tried he has not won but I keep telling him you have to get up and it is not about being defeated. So that experience is going to go a long way for him because it teaches you not to be complacent and not to give up. So for me if that is the only skill my son has learnt, that is never to give up.”