Andrew Preece of PMP Consultancy is visiting the Island this week to assist the government with a strategy for advancing sports in the Cayman Islands.
‘The full range of matters relating to sport reaches deep into our local community, and touches the hearts and minds of youths and adults alike,’ said Alden McLaughlin, Minister of Education, Training, Employment, Youth, Sports and Culture.
As a representative of PMP, a consultancy with relevant experience in a range of sports consultancy projects for island communities such as Barbados, Mr. Preece will meet with Ministry and Sports Department staff, national coaches and members of sporting associations.
He will also tour sports facilities and schools to assist the government with the formulation of a new strategic direction for Cayman’s sports policy.
‘Our objectives are to meet international best practices, address the needs of the Cayman Islands, define roles and responsibilities of sports stakeholders, promote good health and social integration, and allow high performance athletes develop and achieve their maximum potential,’ said Minister McLaughlin.
‘The project will also dovetail with ongoing work on the national curriculum for schools, in the development of the physical education curriculum.’
In addition to extra-curricular sports activities, primary school children partake in one hour of P.E. a week, while secondary students attend two to three periods of P.E. per week.
Primary peripatetic P.E. teacher Ronnie Roach is pleased to hear the Ministry will be taking a closer look at P.E. in the school system.
‘Things have changed over the past 20 years and kids are not as active in their daily lives as they once were,’ he said.
‘Health-wise, attitudes and impacts of a positive attitude toward physical fitness in the primary years have a lasting effect. What you miss out in early life you can’t make up later on,’ he said.
He also underscored the importance of sport in opening doors for students both academically and career-wise.
‘Sports can play a vital role in helping kids gain access to higher education through scholarships, and for the truly gifted athletes, the potential for a future doing something they love,’ he said.
‘While we are a small nation, we can still think big.’
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