Five schools, comprising over 500 classes, are participating in a pilot project aimed at increasing students’ time in physical activities.

Announced as a success at a recent conference held at San Benedittu College, the initiative, first launched at Kirkop Primary School two years ago, currently involves five colleges and is planned to expand to all schools within two years.

Initiated in the 2022-2023 school year, the project seeks to establish daily physical activity sessions to promote long-term healthy habits.

Students now participate in four sessions each week, totalling 100 sessions per school year, marking an increase of one hour and forty minutes from prior physical education requirements.

According to survey results shared at the conference, football remains the most popular activity, followed by basketball and volleyball, with primary school students demonstrating the most enthusiasm.

Education Minister Clifton Grima noted that the increase in physical activity is associated with improvements in student attendance, personal development, and performance across subjects. Teachers have reported enhancements in student behaviour and productivity, which some parents also observed.

Now in its eighth year, the Sport Career Development Programme has enrolled over 1,500 students in 10 sports across 20 public schools and three private schools. Graduates of the program are eligible for an MQF Level 2 or 3 certification.

#MaltaDaily