Physical education and sport, although closely linked, are not synonymous. Sport begins with play and develops through games, competition and challenges. The focus in the physical education curriculum in our schools is on the learner's holistic development, with an emphasis on personal and social development, physical growth, and motor development. Goal setting within the curriculum focuses on individual improvement rather than on winning or being the best. The creation of a positive attitude to sport and physical activity, with the overall aim of promoting long-term involvement, is of paramount importance. Competition in sport contributes to the holistic development of the student, provided that the opportunities presented are such that he or she is progressing towards the achievement of his or her potential. It is Government policy to encourage and promote sport for all in schools. The policy of my Department is to facilitate this by means of a broad and balanced physical education curriculum for schools.
The primary school curriculum was revised in 1999 and is being implemented on a phased basis. Physical education is one of the seven curriculum areas and it will be implemented in all schools from September 2006. A minimum of one hour of physical education per week is recommended for all primary school pupils. Games, which is one of the six strands of the curriculum, encompasses elements of sport. In addition to implementing the prescribed curriculum, schools are also encouraged to devote one day every year to Sport for All, whereby an entire day is given over to sporting activities that emphasise participation and co-operation, rather than winning or losing. To promote sport, many primary schools provide further opportunities for pupils through extracurricular programmes. These may include organising and preparing for inter-school competitions. Schools are often in a position to avail of the services of coaching personnel offered to schools by sporting organisations such as Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, the Football Association of Ireland and the Irish Rugby Football Union. Teachers and parents make an extremely valuable contribution to children's social and physical development through their contribution of time and expertise to extracurricular sporting activities, a fact acknowledged by the ESRI report on school children and sport in Ireland published last year.