Al-Watan

THE Ministry of Education finally approved the implementation of physical education in girls' schools in a bold move even though the Shoura Council rejected proposals in this regard after discussing the matter in several sessions.

The ministry succeeded in making this happen after years of resistance from many quarters. Regular physical activity can help children and adolescents improve cardio respiratory fitness, build strong bones and muscles, control weight, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and reduce the risk of developing health conditions such as heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis and obesity.

Honestly, the ministry should have taken this step years ago and have opened faculties of physical education to train girls as instructors at least two years before making such a decision. Right now, the ministry is obliged to hire foreign trainers at a time the Saudization program in the education sector has almost reached 100 percent and this means returning to square one.

There is no doubt introducing sports in girls schools is a welcome move, supported and encouraged by society, which will reap the benefits especially after the increased rates of obesity among women as well as the negative impact of electronic devices on people's mobility.

Despite the long delay, this decision is a good one. However, the reality requires the Ministry of Education to move fast and be firm in its implementation. Executive steps must be taken to support the decision quickly, especially with the opening of departments for physical education in universities, which are under the administrative control of the Ministry of Education.

The ministry should strive hard in the remainder of the current summer vacation to contract construction companies to build gymnasiums and sports arenas in schools. This is essential for the implementation of the decision so that the physical education curriculum does not remain theory taught from textbooks, without the students having opportunities for field practice in schools.