School sports: Streets turned into play grounds

Sports and Physical Education is an obligatory course for all students sitting the Baccalaureate Examination in the Francophone sub section of education in Cameroon.

The subject which is graded as coefficient two is taught at all levels of the educational system in Cameroon however, most school lack the basic infrastructure to practice sporting activities (indoor and outdoor sports).

In most government secondary and high schools, a dusty during the dry season and muddy during the rainy season play ground is generally used for all sorts of sporting activities including high jump, individual and group sports. Most physical education teachers say, in the absence of adequate infrastructure, they theoretically teach sporting lessons.

The situation in private schools especially those in towns is worse as most schools are fenced with small pieces of land leaving no space for sports and leisure. In such schools students generally used nearby roads for sporting activities or have to move long distances to the nearby community stadium to practice sports.

Students practicing for the Baccalaureate examinations, in most cases are victims of accidents because of the rough terrain on which they practice physical exercise.

The Ministry of Sports and Physical Education released a circular warning all educational institutions to develop sporting grounds however the reality in most schools is different.