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LEAVING CERTIFICATE STUDENTS may get CAO points for being active as part of the government’s plan to tackle obesity.
As part of the Programme for Government published yesterday, the government will “support the introduction of a new Leaving Certificate PE syllabus, as a full optional subject”.
The plan has been widely welcomed. Ireland currently has the third highest rate of obesity in the EU.
Donal O’Shea, chairman of the policy group on obesity at the Royal College of Physicians told TheJournal.ie:
I think putting physical activity in the core of the curriculum of the senior cycle can only be positive.
He said “I am a massive fan of this as part of a solution to the ‘lifestyle driving disease’ epidemic.”
He added:
If it is done properly, it has the potential to be one of the major tipping points in Ireland’s obesity problem and it could be one of those moments you look back on.
This initiative is one aspect of the government’s plan to implement a national physical activity plan along with a national obesity plan.
There is no exact date for when PE will be made a Leaving Cert subject. Previous governments have promised to make it an exam subject beforehand, yet it was never implemented.
However including it in the Programme for Government is a strong sign of commitment from the 32nd Dáil.
“I think we have to accept within the education system that physical literacy is as important for individuals as any other type of literacy,” said Professor O’Shea.
“The more people you have prioritising physical literacy for longer, the better.”
Speaking of more than the physical benefits to young people if PE is introduced to the Leaving Cert curriculum, he said:
“What this is going to mean is, you are going to have to give resources to schools, you are going to have to have a full curriculum that can be examined, you are going to have to tailor it to individuals of different innate physical talent.”
Brendan O’Malley, President of the Physical Education Association of Ireland (PEAI), and a PE teacher in O’Fiach College in Dundalk said:
This will finally allow students the opportunity to showcase their sporting ability, physical literacy, nutritional awareness, to name but a few. Their recognition by means of CAO points is a huge step in the right direction for physical education in Ireland.
Personal experience:
Melissa Morley is an Irish personal trainer, who lost 5 stone in her final year of college. She spoke to TheJounal.ie about her own journey and struggle with weight in school.
I was about 12 stone when I first sat my Leaving Cert and when I had to repeat, I was pushing 12 and a half maybe 13 stone. I really wish there was something different put in place back then especially for repeat students.
It was such a stressful year and I really turned to food for comfort because there was nothing else. I was too ashamed of my size to take part in PE and we were often allowed to skip the class to study instead for the exams.
The 23 year old thinks the introduction of PE to the Leaving Cert is a great idea. She wrote her thesis on the link between obesity and depression in young adults, and supports more than the physical benefits of the plan.
It’s a fantastic initiative. It’s a break both physically and mentally from exams and books. The boost of endorphin’s are so important for positive mental health which is of course a massive issue with regards to young people and the stress at which they’re under socially and academically.
“I think that as long as it incorporates all these aspects it will be a huge success.” Morley added.
Obesity in Ireland:
Last month a report in the Lancet medical journal was published that tracked the obesity levels in 200 countries from 1975 to 2014.
The Journal.ie did a FactCheck on the Lancet report as well as figures from the World Health Organisation to show Irish adults have the 3rd highest rate of obesity in the EU.
Newly appointed minister for Health, Simon Harris, spoke yesterday at the Healthcare Leaders masterclass 2016 about the work ahead of the Department of Health and what they have achieved to date saying:
“We’ve made great progress on smoking and now we need a similar focus on alcohol misuse, obesity and physical inactivity.”
Along with the plan for national physical activity plan, the Department of Health also announced there will be a levy on “sugar sweetened drinks”, although the exact amount has not been confirmed.
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Young men who won’t expose their arses in public? A rare breed of Irishman indeed . They don’t make them like that any more ………. :)
William wallace: its all for nothing if we dont have freedom.
If he though the Irish were smart asses, I wonder what he thought about the Jews…..oh wait……
Great film
Timely article given the impending referendum. What would William do these days?
I seem to remember a huge sense of disappointment, that Mel Gibson didn’t mention the boys from the defence forces, while doing his “thank you” when he received his Oscar.
My good friend Jason Mckevitt is the very lad in the article. Grand head of hair on you Jay
Cheers Buddy, That clip has brought back some memories, especially regarding my Hair…..Mel Gibson was actually a genuine guy….no airs or graces Hollywood stuff, he would talk to us the same as his co-stars and production team, Still a smartass none the less !!!!!!!
Genius film maker.
@Thomas, calling Mel Gibson a “Genius Film Maker” probably puts you in a very small minority group. A lot of things spr
….spring to mind, when he’s mentioned but “Genius” is not one of them ….
It’s my Island
That movie also spawned the chat-up line that was most used by irish male students on foreign female students for a couple of years… Every single on them claimed to have been an extra. My landlord in first year in college was working for the irish film board when they granted the funding for brave heart so I heard about it coming to Ireland for filming months before they arrived.
I’d say you’re great craic.
What chat up line. “You bled for wallace now bleed for me”?
Very good!!!
Overrated and basically fictional version of history. So completely irrelevant to the independence debate.
Clown
Alan, about sums it up. Great Scottish hero, played by an Australian and filmed in Ireland. Obviously no suitable scenery in Scotland. Decent film but hardly a history lesson.
Indeed, it’s actually considered one of the most historically inaccurate films ever made.
Er, I’d say that dubious honour would fall to Neil Jordan’s version of “Michael Collins”, Ben.
You don’t speak Latin?
Yeah well Mel is a girl’s name.
The Irish Army is a good army They do a great job at peace keeping for the UN, but a lot of respect is lost when we see them being extras in films and minding the banks money
The banks pay them to do it. It’s not free service afaik.
Soldiers have been extras in films for years and years. There was a time their pay was total shit and so they’d do it for a weekend away on the piss and a bit of craic. I wouldn’t begrudge it to them.
That’s a bit like saying nurses lose a lot of respect when they take a coffee break.
Jack those extras were fca (reserves)
They kept him in fags anyway.
He is just a drunk lads take no notice of him
Why should I care what an alcoholic, wife-beating myth peddler has to say?
have your say