Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan

Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd DomSports in school are not necessarily about winning. It can also beused as a social tool to produce balanced individuals.Sports Day in schools was something the whole town would get involved in. Itwas such a big event with our parents also showing up to lend their support— these are the words of the Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at anevent recently.Now, the situation is far from that.I certainly agree with Tan Sri Muhyiddin’s statement. Looking back, I particularlyenjoyed the Annual Sports Days. In my time, Sports Day was an event eagerlyawaited by almost all in the school.It was a colourful event which was made more vibrant with t-shirts of thedifferent house colours and the huge nylonparachute-shaped tents. Everyone got freesnack coupons and the thirst-quenching The Education Ministericed Milo - a luxury and treat only to besavoured once a year.said that sports shouldToday, Sports Day is still an annual event,but the passion and its charm do not haveas much an impact as it used to.While schools strive to produce wellroundedholistic individuals, academicexcellence will always be regarded by manyas the main agenda in education. This has, andunjustifiably so, pushed excellence in sportsand games to a secondary importance.once again be givenserious emphasis inschools to producestudents who are wellrounded.The Education Minister said that sports should once again be given serious emphasisin schools to produce students who are well-rounded.Schools provide a platform of co-curricular activities for people to progress; fromhaving fun to being healthy to instilling endurance in competition. It provides acurriculum that builds a balanced individual as well as addressing a variety of issuesfrom social integration, health, community regeneration and social inclusion.Today, we have dedicated sports schools in Bukit Jalil and Bandar Penawar. It isheartening to watch players who give their more senior club-level counterparts arun for their money. The sports schools have been a success; a number of Olympianshave been produced in particular individual events. Certainly, there are plans toexpand the establishment of such schools, and when this materialises, the sports149