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Mauritius: Teaching Sport in Colleges
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L'Express (Port Louis)
27 February 2008
Posted to the web 27 February 2008
M.S. WEBB
Port Louis
It was at one and the same time both refreshing and distressing to read the excellent article by Reynolds Quirin last Tuesday.
He raised so many important and pertinent issues that it is almost impossible to know which to tackle first. What is certain, however, is the essentiel need for all involved in the development of sport in Mauritius to PULL TOGETHER.
At the Inter-College level, encouragement and support has to be given to Headteachers to convince them of the value of healthy sporting competition. In turn they must back P.E. staff to produce teams for inter-school matches. What is the reason that these cannot be organised after school and on Saturdays? Something has to be done to break the obsession with extra after-school tuition. This is the time when Mauritian school students should enjoy opportunities for competitive sport rather than repeating studies which should be untertaken in normal school time between 8.30 and 2.30. From local competitions winners will emerge to then compete at national level. As M. Quirin so rightly pointed out, it would not take long for top-level coaches to spot the most talented players for further development. Who would benefit from this? Everyone.
The students would, I am sure, relish the change to pit their skills against others. They would naturally develop a sense of purpose, the value of team spirit, and the desire to improve. The value to the health and fitness of mind and body is inestimable.
The teachers would have in front of them a growing number of motivated students. I can personally vouch how good it is to see young people make progress as sportsmen and women through competitive sport. The towns & villages will see far more of their youngsters involved in worthwhile, healthy activities. Is it better to have groups of teenagers idling on street corners or playing and enjoying a variety of sports?
The NATION will have a steady and growing supply of sporting talent, of teams that will rise in standard at international level and of individuals who can genuinely aspire to success at African and even Olympic level.
Of course it will take time, patience and money to make this happen. Those in positions of power and influence must ACT, not talk. They need to create a framework within which administrators and coaches are motivated to foster young peoples' progress. This is a small nation - it should not be beyond right-thinking people to achieve this. Imagine the pride the nation would feel to see an Olympic medallist, to see leading players competiting at top international level or to see its teams taking part in African tournaments like the recent soccer tournament in Ghana.
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I have lived in Mauritius for five years now : my teaching job at Northfields International High School involves me in sport for much of my time. Our students (male and female aged between 11 and 18) need and thrive on competitive sport and I feel a sense of growing frustration that we cannot find regular games for our soccer, cricket, rugby, volleyball, basketball, swimming, tennis and athletics teams. May I end my article by issuing a plea and a challenge to ANY school to play against us - we are welcoming hosts and willing travellers !
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