Physical Education, Sports and Child
Protection in Schools
Elaine King, Adolescent and HIV/AIDS Specialist
UNICEF Office for the Eastern Caribbean Area
February 2014
1
CRC MANDATES CHILDREN’S RIGHTS TO SAFE,
HEALTHY & PROTECTIVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS
Article 2
Education must be
provided without
discrimination on
any grounds
Article 19
State Parties must
take all measures
to protect the child
from all forms of
physical or mental
violence, abuse,
Injury, maltreatment
Article 31
State Parties must
ensure that
institutions
conform to standards
set for the care and
protection of children
Article 34
States Parties must take action to protect children from
all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse
UNICEF
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Caribbean has made great strides in achieving
universal primary and secondary access but…
Are schools acting to
prevent and respond to
violence, abuse and
neglect, exploitation
and discrimination of
children?
UNICEF
Are schools providing the
positive, nurturing and
supportive environments
that young people need to
thrive and reach their full
potential?
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Physical Education and Sport
As duty bearers it is important to act early and
consciously to prevent harm to children and
adolescents due to :
- good intentions but poor practice
- deliberate acts which result in physical or
psychological harm
Defining PE and Sports
• Most countries report delivering PE and sports in schools
• Countries definitions of PE and Sports vary
St. Lucia Sports Policy (draft): Physical Education …..process
through which sport, outdoor adventure activities, dance,
gymnastics, aquatics and games are used by physical educators to
help students learn motor skills and to learn about and achieve
physical fitness ...
Grenada Sports Policy: Physical Education – instructions in physical
exercise and games as part of the school development programme.
Sport is “… competitive, ruled based games, involving some degree
of physical activity and exercise".
Different Management & Oversight structures
Country
Anguilla
Sports
Ministry of Social Development (Sport
Dept.)
Antigua &
Barbuda
Ministry of Education, Gender, Sports
and Youth Affairs (Sports Dept.)
Barbados
Ministry of Sports -National Sports
Council
Ministry of Culture, Youths and Sports
Ministry of Youth, Sports, Ecclesiastic
Affairs
Ministry of Youth Empowerment,
Sports, Information Technology,
Telecommunication and Posts
Ministry of Education, Human
Resources, Youth and Sports (Sport
Dept.)
Ministry of Tourism, Sports and
Culture
Dominica
Grenada
St. Kitts &
Nevis
S. Lucia
St. Vincent &
the
Grenadines
Trinidad &
Tobago
Ministry of Sports
Physical Education
Ministry of Social
Development (Education
Dept.)
Ministry of Education, Gender,
Sports and Youth Affairs
(Education Dept.)
Ministry of Education, Science,
Technology and Innovation
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education and
Information
Ministry of Education, Human
Resources, Youth and Sports
(Education Dept.)
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education
SWOT - PE and Sports in Schools
Strength
Weakness
Opportunity
Threat
• Consistent school
programmes in each
country
• Rewarding performance
as a motivator
• Compulsory
implementation up to
3rd form ensure
students involvement
physical activity
• Interministerial
approach for
sustainability
• Competitions motivate
students
• Links to community
groups for sustainability
• Transferable skills to
other subjects
• CSEC opens students to
alternative career paths
• International college
recruitment
• Inadequate facilities
discourage students’
involvement in PES
• Shortage of trained
educators/coaches
• Limited financial
investment
• Equipment shortage
discourages students
• Elective course option at
4th form limits students
involvement
• Lack of Ministry
integration limits
national development
• Lack of integrative
national policy
• Inadequate time
allotment for PES
• Esposure to alternative
career opportunity
• PES improve teaching
environment
• Motivate student
participation in school
environment
• Transferable skills to
other areas of child's
development
• Promote gender equality
• Inclusive environment
for persons with
disability
• Build
parent/child/school
relationships
• College scholarship
opportunities
• Finance
• Inadequate equipment
• Gaps in training
• Limited documentation
on PES
• Little or no Policy
guidance
• Facility inadequacy
• Bias selection process
denies equal
opportunity
• Exclusion criteria at
national clubs limits
equal involvement
• Political priority
determines level of
national investment
Ensure that policies
and guidelines are in
place for teachers
and coaches as well
as other support
personnel to for a
safe and protective
environment for
children
Stronger Protective Environment requires …
• Greater attention to physical safety of students – before,
during and after schools
• Principals/teachers aware of their roles &
responsibilities; with established contacts with relevant
support agencies for timely and appropriate referrals
• Strong school-family-community cooperation
• Teachers and Counsellors with skills to identify and refer
students with challenges
• Adoption & use of National Child Abuse Reporting
Protocols
10
Greater
emphasis on
Positive,
Supportive,
Child-centred
Learning
Environments
is essential if
children are to
reach their full
potential
Child Friendly Schools contribute to the
holistic development of confident, wellinformed and well-supported young people
with positive self esteem
Child-centred
Inclusive
Gender sensitive
Democratic
Participation
Healthy,
Protective
environment
• Positive discipline is a proactive, effective
and respectful way to manage behaviour
Positive discipline is:
• Non-violent
• Solution Focused
• Respectful
• Non-punitive
Created by Nicole N. Lynch
Positive Discipline is Not:
• Permissiveness
• Letting students do what they
want
• An absence of rules, limits or
expectations
Created by Nicole N. Lynch
Enhancing Student Participation in
School
At class level
At wider school level
In playground
Students’ Council members
strategizing at Paix Bouche
Primary
Through sports
Greater synergies between
programmes a must
HFLE cover 4 themes:
• Self & interpersonal
relationships
• Eating & Fitness
• Sexuality and Sexual
health
• Managing the
environment
Child Protection Elements
Comprehensive legal framework
Relevant policies and guidelines
Capacity building for prevention and
intervention
Parenting Education
DVD on bullying in sports
Child Friendly School: a protective
environment for children
Children like
school and feel
happy there
Relevant
Children’s
policies in
learning and
place
social needs
are met
Sanitary, safe
environment
UNICEF
THANK YOU
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