Introduction
Given the increasing levels of violence and crime in South African schools, the Department
of Education (DoE) has identified the 585 most affected schools. The DoE is striving to
develop an intervention strategy and programme aimed at improving both social and learning
conditions of the learners in these school communities. Ample evidence exists to prove
that participation in Sport can mitigate violence and crime in schools, as the spirit of
camaraderie provides an alternative to gang and crime-related activities.
Therefore the DoE, in partnership with UNICEF and SuperSport, has embarked on Sports for
Development programme in 27 affected school communities (216 schools or 172000 learners)
in 9 provinces from August 2008 to July 2009. The pilot programme will test various models
and approaches by service providers to inform the most viable Sports for Development
programme for rollout to the remaining schools from 2009. The pilot will at the same time
be a distribution platform for soccer balls collected through the Let’s Play a
Million initiative.
The overall objective of the project is to increase school and community participation
rates in sport and recreation and to develop an active sporting community. This will be
achieved by investing in building the sport leadership capacity of teachers, community
youth leaders and learners in the schools.
Impact of the LPAM/SFD program
Since the introduction of the Let’s Play a Million and sport development programme,
there is firm evidence of local children having improved their schoolwork. In Welkom, for
instance, the pass rate at Lephola school shot up from 32,3% in 2007 to 87,80% in 2008.
Around 60% of learners are taking part in extra-mural activities where it used to be
between 35-40%, which means that more children are staying off the street
SUCCESSES
- Positive changes happening in schools
- We have noticed that learners will be playing sport during lunch breaks and are showing
huge amounts of energy, instead of sitting around and doing nothing
- The educators that are passionate about getting children active are much more confident
during their LO lessons as they now know how to set up fields, to warm-ups etc.
- Learners are more aware of their potential in different sporting cods
- Educators are finding it much easier to assess in LO4
- Learners are learning about team spirit and working together towards the same goal
- Learners are taking the sport into the community and practice after hours
- Learners don’t want to miss the LO periods which results in higher attendance
- School children are taking their high levels of energy into the classrooms and
participates much better in class.
- Learners that use to be absent from school quit often are attending school more
regularly
- Through sport, better discipline is instilled in the learners
- Learners are taking their LO programme more serious
- Absenteeism has been reduced tremendously
- Learners attitudes have changed, there are signs of improvement in class work and their
behaviour
- Fitness levels have improved
- The schools where the programme is running are receiving higher enrolment figures
- +- 60% of learners in the schools are taking part in extra-mural activities where it
used to be between 35 -40 %, which means that more children are staying off the streets.
- Learners are trying to improve their nutrition
- Concentration and energy levels have improved
- Learners are following instructions much better in class
- Teams are starting to win games when participating against other schools
- Stress and depression in learners has reduced
- Learners have developed team spirit
- Learners are joining local community sport clubs and are practising in the afternoons
- Talent is being identified and children are chosen to represent their districts on the
sport field
- Crime has decreased
- Less smoking and loitering amongst learners have been noted
Pass rates at some of the schools:
- Lekgarietse 2007: 45 % - 2008: 57%
- Thotagauta 2007: 35 % - 2008: 35%
- Lephola 2007: 32,3 % - 2008: 87.80%
- Theto 2007: 90% - 2008: 90%
|
