By Ifeanyi Omenogor
OGWASHI-UKU/Nigeria: The Principal, Institute of Continuing Education, Ogwashi-Uku, Mrs Edith Okonkwo has said the importance of sports in schools should not be overemphasized.
She made the remarks during the 6th inter house sports competition of the school at Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State.
Mrs Okonkwo said sport promotes and enhances mental alertness and also for the well being of students.
She said sports promotes the three domains of learning, which according to her, include cognitive, affective and psychomotor learning skills, especially the psychomotor skills which focuses on the development of physical fitness, dexterity, agility and body control to achieve a high-level expertise.
The principal called on teachers and students to ensure they take sporting programs seriously to promote a healthy learning environment.
Mrs Okonkwo lauded the Parents’ Teachers’ Association (PTA) of the school for its contributions to the development of the school, adding that the PTA renovated the toilets in the school and annually built students’ seats.
She equally commended the sports planning committee, headed by Mrs Esther Esuzor for the committee’s effort to ensure the success of the program.
Mrs Okonkwo said the school was bedevilled by infrastructural needs, which she said required urgent attention by state government, PTA and other well-to-do individuals.
She appealed that the block of classrooms housing the offices and staff room be renovated and re-roofed, and the establishment of a students’ library to promote reading culture and learning.
Pastor Anthony Ashibogwu, who chaired the occasion, the PTA chairman, Reverend Fidelis Udegbue, Sir Joseph Chukwuma, the owner of Green House and other house owners, lauded the school’s management and the teachers for sports meet, saying that the teachers were disciplinarians and corruption free.
They appealed to the state government to renovate the school and reposition it, for the purpose of conducive teaching and learning.
