Resumption of Team Sports for National School Games

Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Education whether team sports such as football, hockey and netball will be allowed to resume for the National School Games.

Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Education how is the Ministry working alongside schools to allow for the resumption of the National School Games so that students and coaches will be able to continue with their passion for sports and outdoor learning through experiences on the sports field.

Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Education how can the Ministry re-ignite sports competitions, whether at a district level or at the national level, to ensure sports atrophy does not set in such as to disadvantage successive generations of potential sportsmen and sportswomen.

MOE has been working very closely with schools through the Singapore Primary Schools Sports Council (SPSSC) and Singapore Schools Sports Council (SSSC) on the plans to resume the National School Games (NSG). As announced by MOE on 9 March, NSG will resume for selected sports from 29 March to 27 May 2021 for 'A', 'B' and 'Senior' Divisions.

The selected sports are those that do not involve physical contact or intermingling between participants from different schools. This is to minimise the risks of COVID-19 transmission across our schools, and to safeguard the well-being of our student athletes. Hence at this stage, team sports that involve moderate to high levels of contact between the students, such as football, hockey and netball, will not be part of the NSG.

Even though external competition opportunities are currently not available for these sports, the development of our student athletes is sustained through CCA training sessions and competitions within the school. CCAs in all our schools provide students with a strong sense of belonging, purpose and opportunities for growth – all things important to sustain the interest and passion of our students for their sport.

MOE will continue to monitor the situation closely, and work with the Sports Councils and the schools to ensure the safe conduct of NSG. Should the situation change, we will review our plans in tandem with the national posture.