All public schools to dedicate Friday afternoons to sports & physical education – Pres. Ali

Emphasising the importance of promoting healthier lifestyles among children, President Dr Irfaan Ali has announced that all public schools will now move to dedicate Fridays to physical education classes.

He made the announcement today whilst speaking at the commissioning of the new Brickdam Secondary School in Georgetown.

The President said systems are being put in place to ensure Friday afternoons are set aside for physical education, recreation and sports in all schools within the public sector.

“We’re building complete human beings, understanding what real human capital really is, and understanding that in our national ecosystem, sports, physical education, play a very important role. And I’ve seen the beautiful schools across our country. And in the next five years, great emphasis will be placed on recreational facilities to support our academic education. To this end, I want to see in the education system Friday afternoons, after lunch, completely dedicated to sports and physical education. I believe strongly that if we are to make a shift from a device-led world to a human-led world, we need to make these important changes. And I would say that one of the priorities would be reorganising our education system to make Friday afternoons completely dedicated to physical education, recreation, and sports,” he said.

According to President Ali, this move is part of a larger national push to tackle screen addiction among children, reduce sedentary lifestyles, and instill lifelong habits of health, teamwork, and discipline.

“We are not just building schools. We are creating opportunities, entrenching equity, and fostering greater quality,” the president noted.

Just a few months ago, Chief Education Officer Saddam Hussain pledged a renewed emphasis on physical play and sports education in Guyana’s school system, highlighting it as a critical component of student development.

He had noted that going forward, trained PE teachers will not be diverted to teacher other subjects. Additionally, he had noted that the Ministry of Education has been making significant investments in the building out of spaces within schools such as tarmacs to ensure there are dedicated physical areas for play at each institution.