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The Straits Times
www.straitstimes.com
Published on Apr 08, 2013
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[h=1]Worrying conditions at Napfa test[/h][h=2][/h]
<!--start of story text--> MY OBSERVATIONS of secondary school students taking their National Physical Fitness Award/Assessment (Napfa) test on various occasions at track-and-field grounds in a public estate show that they are mostly unprepared to run in the sun, and safety precautions appear inadequate ("Measures in place to beat the heat, say schools"; last Thursday).
There was much to be concerned about:
- It was scorching hot when the test started at 10.30am and lasted till late morning. One schoolgirl ran with an umbrella.
- Most of the students had a bad posture while running and looked like they were struggling; half of them were walking. It is possible that the students were taking the Napfa test without prior progressive training.
- The students wore rubber school shoes instead of proper running shoes.
- There were no water points or first-aid stations along the test route.
- Hardly anyone brought along a water bottle.
After giving feedback to the school and the Ministry of Education, there was no action taken to improve running conditions.
It appears that the school was interested only in making the students take the test and achieve a passing rate, regardless of whether they were properly trained, well-prepared and ready.
Students who feel they are not ready to take the test may not dare to speak up to their teachers. For some students, running 2.4km is difficult and this can create much anxiety.
Even some national servicemen fail the 2.4km run in the Individual Physical Proficiency Test.
Do not put schoolchildren through the same test soldiers take. Set a shorter distance for the Napfa test.
The ministry must ensure that students go through a structured training programme, start them on shorter distances and track their progress until they are ready to run the full 2.4km.
There should also be water stations and a first-aid point along the route.
Ang Chin Guan
<!--end of story text-->
Copyright © 2013 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.
Print this
The Straits Times
www.straitstimes.com
Published on Apr 08, 2013
<!--close .kicker, if any-->
[h=1]Worrying conditions at Napfa test[/h][h=2][/h]
<!--start of story text--> MY OBSERVATIONS of secondary school students taking their National Physical Fitness Award/Assessment (Napfa) test on various occasions at track-and-field grounds in a public estate show that they are mostly unprepared to run in the sun, and safety precautions appear inadequate ("Measures in place to beat the heat, say schools"; last Thursday).
There was much to be concerned about:
- It was scorching hot when the test started at 10.30am and lasted till late morning. One schoolgirl ran with an umbrella.
- Most of the students had a bad posture while running and looked like they were struggling; half of them were walking. It is possible that the students were taking the Napfa test without prior progressive training.
- The students wore rubber school shoes instead of proper running shoes.
- There were no water points or first-aid stations along the test route.
- Hardly anyone brought along a water bottle.
After giving feedback to the school and the Ministry of Education, there was no action taken to improve running conditions.
It appears that the school was interested only in making the students take the test and achieve a passing rate, regardless of whether they were properly trained, well-prepared and ready.
Students who feel they are not ready to take the test may not dare to speak up to their teachers. For some students, running 2.4km is difficult and this can create much anxiety.
Even some national servicemen fail the 2.4km run in the Individual Physical Proficiency Test.
Do not put schoolchildren through the same test soldiers take. Set a shorter distance for the Napfa test.
The ministry must ensure that students go through a structured training programme, start them on shorter distances and track their progress until they are ready to run the full 2.4km.
There should also be water stations and a first-aid point along the route.
Ang Chin Guan
<!--end of story text-->
Copyright © 2013 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.
