Increasing exercise fails to make children fitter, claim councils
By Mark Howarth
MINISTERS are scrapping physical education targets - after councils claimed that giving children more exercise does not make them fitter.
The SNP election manifesto promised every pupil two hours' specialist teaching a week as part of the war on obesity.
But, less than a year on, the Scottish government has decided to drop the pledge from its new PE Curriculum For Excellence, to be unveiled next month.
Ministers made their U-turn after advice from local authorities that providing extra gym is "not always helpful".
Instead, there will now be only a vague commitment to "help create healthy, fit and active children".
Last night, critics suggested the change in policy may be linked to new statistics showing the vast majority of councils falling well short of the 120-minute mark.
Dr Colin Waine of the National Obesity Forum said: "If councils can't make the grade because they're under-resourced then they should tell us instead of hiding behind this cop-out language.
"This is a salutary lesson in how politicians trumpet pledges at election time then drop them like hot potatoes when it comes to actually implementing them.
"Physically, Scotland is in critical condition. Childhood obesity means there is an enormous number of youngsters whose health will be severely compromised in the future.
"Government has a responsibility to emphasise physical exercise in the curriculum because PE lessons have a positive effect not just on pupils' weight but on their general fitness levels too."
Labour's shadow education secretary, Rhona Brankin, added: "Suggesting more exercise does not lead to healthier children not only goes against expert opinion but also common sense. Just like their broken promises on school buildings and class sizes, the SNP are letting children down.
"With Glasgow set to host the Commonwealth Games in 2014, this decision will do nothing to encourage a love of sport in our young people."
Tory education spokesman Murdo Fraser said: "Schools have to take the lead because, unfortunately, we all know there are parents who simply won't."
The two-hour recommendation was made by a Labour Executive review group in 2004 and was seen as a tool to help fight Scotland's weight crisis.
One in six boys and one in seven girls is now obese and Scotland is the second-fattest nation in the world, behind only the US.
Last night, the Scottish government admitted it is set for talks with council umbrella group Cosla about abandoning targets with immediate effect.
A spokesman added: "It is indeed still a major priority to help create healthy, fit and active children in Scotland. But it has now been agreed that the new curriculum framework should be outcome-based with no input requirements in terms of subject or time allocations.
"Many authorities felt the target was a blunt instrument and was not always helpful in trying to achieve the outcomes sought."
Cosla education spokesman Isabel Hutton added: "We are moving away from narrow targets and input measures - such as the two hours of PE per week - to focus on what is important: improving the health outcomes for children and tackling inequality."
