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FREDERICTON -

Sport N.B. is encouraged by last week's announcement from Education Minister Kelly Lamrock which outlined plans for increased physical education in elementary schools for the Anglophone sector.

Sport N.B. has long been an advocate regarding the need to invest in daily quality physical education in our schools.

President Laura Swift-Christie said, "It is important to promote opportunities for all New Brunswickers to participate in sport and physical activity. Quality physical education in our school system can provide the necessary universal access for all New Brunswick children.

"Over the past number of years our sport system in New Brunswick has been working at implementing the long-term athlete development model. At the heart of this model is the critical need to develop fundamental motor skills, physical literacy, and a solid foundation of sport skills. These core elements can be developed and delivered through a sound physical education program within our school system.

"This stage of the development model is critical for assisting individuals through all stages of their life to pursue a variety of activities, and improve the overall quality of their lives."

Sport N.B. also emphasizes the important role of physical education specialists as teachers of quality physical education in schools.

"Physical education specialists who are educated and trained to understand children's developmental needs are essential to the success of this new initiative," she added.

"This will be critical to ensure that this positive step forward effects the greatest change possible."

Access to physical education programming that is delivered by specialists will provide children with the opportunity to develop necessary skills and attitudes to create the foundation for lifelong participation in sport and physical activity. The increase from 100 to 150 minutes over time will also provide a better opportunity for the teachers to teach the skills and for the students to master them as they play and learn.

Sport N.B. is a non-profit bilingual federation. It advocates sport for all, from the grassroots level to high performance, and provide programs and services for all its members.