Broadening the scope of physical activities in our education system

Dear Editor,
The Ministry of Education must be complimented for their efforts to promote physical activity via sports. Organised sports have many physical, psychological, social and emotional character-building attributes; and of course they also provide opportunities for fun, frolic and friendly competition.
Similar benefits can be derived from activities associated with gardening, carpentry, and simple ‘mechanical’ maintenance (which were ‘staples’ in the curriculum during my school days).
Additionally, attention to such activities can enhance the attraction of careers in agriculture and mechanical trades, which our country needs to realise its true and natural potential.
I take this opportunity to remind our leaders in education and Government to keep the focus on such activities, lest we end up with too many pen & keyboard pushers and too few practitioners for our economic development.

Sincerely,
Nowrang Persaud