What it is
The Department of Education (DepEd) is reinforcing the school sports program to help shape the character of the youth. This effort is part of a campaign under DepEd Order No. 22, series of 2025, which calls for establishing sports clubs in all public elementary and secondary schools, Community Learning Centers, and Inclusive Learning Resource Centers nationwide.
Key points
- The DepEd officials inspected the training at Ligas I Elementary School, focusing on the Arnis club.
- The DepEd views these sports programs as providing students with guidance, life skills, and strong camaraderie.
- The established Sports Clubs provide two to three hours of organized training each week, guided by trained school coordinators.
- The program aligns with the Philippine Sports Commission's (PSC) Grassroots-to-Gold framework, linking school training to elite athlete levels.
- The DepEd is also supporting this through the establishment of the YAKAP School Health and Protection Program in partnership with the DOH, DILG, and PhilHealth.
Who is affected
- The initiative applies to the 31,471 public schools that have registered a total of 151,748 School Sports Clubs (SSCs).
- These SSCs cover 24 different types of sports, including athletics, badminton, chess, volleyball, basketball, and Arnis.
- The program is intended for students across all public elementary and secondary schools nationwide.
What teachers should do
- Teachers are part of the environment where these holistic activities take place, supporting the students' physical and mental development.
- The DepEd is encouraging the establishment of these clubs to provide a positive and structured outlet for students' energy.
- The DepEd is also coordinating with various agencies to ensure that the physical education aspect is supported by health services, as seen in the inspection of a newly fitted school clinic.
Source
Official source: deped.gov.ph