SADTU set to bring back the love of sports in schools
6 October 2009
South Africa’s biggest teacher union, The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) is to hold a three-day National Sports Festival in the Free State, Bloemfontein from Wednesday, 7 until 10 October, 2009.The Festival one of the biggest events in the SADTU calendar this year – will attract close to 1 200 delegates from all nine provinces who will compete in various sporting codes ranging from soccer, rugby, netball, volleyball, tennis, table tennis, pool, softball to chess.
For SADTU, sports is not only for fun, entertainment and competition but is one of the most effective unifiers of people of different races, cultures, sex and creed. SADTU also sees sports as one of the best promoters of health and wellness.SADTU has over the past few years seen a slow decline in sport participation in schools by learners.
SADTU hopes the Sports Festival will inculcate the passion for sports among teachers which will then cascade to learners in schools.
Sport, art and culture are crucial to learner development and should not be treated as extra-curricula. They are part and parcel of education. We therefore call upon the department of education to provide sporting facilities, trained personnel and time to engage in sport in schools more especially in rural areas, Mugwena Maluleke SADTU General Secretary said.
SADTU will also use the first day (wednesday) of the Festival to celebrate World TeachersÂ’ Day under the theme Build the Future: Invest in Teachers Now! SADTU President Thobile Ntola will officially open the event and the Deputy Minister of Basic Education Enver Surty will deliver one of the keynote addresses.
Other speakers will include Free State MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Dan Kgothule and Education Deputy Director General Gugu Ndebele
Issues by: SADTU Secretariat