Delayed Physical Education and Sports course will resume- Badra Withanage

Students following Physical Education and Sports course in advanced level classes have spent more than eight months without knowing the destiny of their course.

by Reemus Fernando

Hundreds of students following Physical Education and Sports course in advanced level classes have spent more than eight months during the Covid 19 pandemic not knowing the destiny of their course while some of them have given it up. Badra Withanage, Director, Education for All, at the Ministry of Education said that discussions were underway to resume stalled courses including Physical Education and Sports.

She said that the delays were due to the unprecedented challenges her department had to face due to the temporary closure of many institutions which conduct courses for their students during the pandemic.

The National Institute of Sports Science (NISS) is one of the main institutions that combine with the Ministry of Education to facilitate students following Physical Education and Sports course. NISS has been selecting students across the island through a physical fitness test since the system was introduced a couple of years back.

“The National Institute of Sports Science has not completed the course for the present batch of students due to the Covid 19 forced lockdowns. Only when that batch finishes the course that we will be able to start the next batch. However we are looking at other options including the possibilities of starting the course at the Western Province Institute of Sports Science,” said Withanage in reply to The Island query.

However sources close to NISS said that the Institution has the capacity to recommence a course for a fresh batch if the Ministry of Education disburses funds.

The present batch of students will have to spend another six months to complete their course at the NISS.

Physical Education and Sports is just one of the many courses affected due to the pandemic. Students who had been following courses in hospitality and apparel sector industries are among the worst affected.