Inter-house Sports Competition, a viable platform for child development, talent hunt – Stakeholders
By Olatunde Ajayi
The importance of blending sporting activities with classroom learning for children has been identified as a viable tool in ensuring that students are properly developed in all aspects.
Highlighting the benefits of integrating sporting activities into school curriculum, the Head Mistress, Scared Heart Catholic Private School Ibadan, Rev. Sr. Vivian Iribhogbe, said that school sports also avails the nation the opportunity for talent hunting.
Iribhogbe spoke during 32nd Inter-House Sports Competition of the school held at the school playing ground in Ibadan.
She described sports as important aspect of every being’s life that helps in improving human health as well as teaching life good qualities like discipline, hard work, patience, respect and teamwork.
“As a school, we strive to ensure that our pupils attain the afore-mentioned skills by participating in extra-curricular activities throughout the year.
“We should not dwell in the winning and losing aspects of sports, instead we must intimate pupils to participate more in gaining experience and attaining a better sense of sportsmanship.
“This year’s event provides us with one such opportunity to learn and teach these qualities while practicing and taking part, “she said.
Also speaking, the Priest in charge of Christ the King Catholic Church Ibadan, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Ajewole, noted that education has to be whole, encompassing sports and classroom learning.
“Learning is not about classroom alone, some of the great sport stars started from school inter- house sports competition.
“Involvement of pupils in sports will also create more friendship and increase the spirit competition among students, “he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Mr Olayinka Ayinde, represented by his wife, Mrs Oluwamayowa Ayinde said that sporting activities give the child all round development, which includes, cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains.
“Besides, sports keep the child busy, this takes away idleness and prevents them from engaging social vices and other harmful events,’’ she said.
A parent, Mrs Olubunmi Ogundeji, commended the school for identifying sports as integral part of learning process for grooming students for glorious future.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that blue house came first with 298 points.
Yellow house was first runner-up with 287 while green and red houses took third and fourth positions with 281 and 263 points respectively.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
