NEW ERA DAWNS ON SCHOOL SPORT AS KZNDSAC AND KZN DOE SIGN A GROUND-BREAKING AGREEMENT

It was a fun-filled day in Mona, Nongoma in the Zululand District on Friday, 09/09/22, when KZN MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Amanda Bani-Mapena and MEC Mbali Frazer's Education Department signed a ground-breaking Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the launch of the province-wide School Sport, Arts and Culture.

It was a fun-filled day in Mona, Nongoma in the Zululand District on Friday, 09/09/22, when KZN MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Amanda Bani-Mapena and MEC Mbali Frazer's Education Department signed a ground-breaking Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the launch of the province-wide School Sport, Arts and Culture.
The MOA which has been approved by the Cabinet seeks to implement the revival of school sport, arts and culture between the KZN Departments of Sport, Arts and Culture (KZNDSAC) and Education.

The rationale behind the resuscitation of school sport, as identified by the government, is the low access to participation in sport, recreation, arts and culture amongst learners which has led to the rise in levels of obesity, social-ills, drop-out rate, crime and limited opportunities for talented learners to access development and high-performance programmes.

The historical context of this agreement is preceded by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the then Department of Sport and Recreation (SRSA) launch of the National School Sport Programme on 5 November 2011 at the University of Johannesburg, Soweto Campus by signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

The initiative triggered the revitalisation and re-establishment of school sport in the country. The purpose of the Programme is to implement an integrated school sport, arts and culture programme in all schools.

The overall aim of the programme is to increase opportunities for all learners in the province to access sport, arts and culture in schools. The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture delivers school sport in partnership with the Department of Education, KZN Sport Confederation, Sport Federations, and other key stakeholders.

The MOA will guide the delivery of school sport, arts and culture and to identify the key roles and responsibilities of each department.

Bani-Mapena added that several learners are included as part of the Elite Athlete Development Programme (EADP) at the Prime High-Performance Institute. She said talented athletes identified through the School Sport Programme are placed in Sport Focus Schools by National DSAC.

"I have always defined school sports as a high platform and a vehicle for the promotion of cultural and national identity. We all should play sport, not only to grow our physique but to enable our intellectual ability and improvement, while also exploring the economic side of sport as well as sport tourism," she said.

MEC Bani-Mapena started her day at Phumanyova High School for a flag hoisting ceremony which was followed by the handing over of sport equipment and 1 100 sanitary pads for girls. The MEC was wowed with raw talent of drama, choral music and sport throughout the eventful day.

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