New high school curriculum promotes exercise, healthy eating

Education Minister John Ottenheimer today announced that the Department of Education is moving forward with its ongoing commitment to promote healthy living among the province�s K-12 students.

Having completed the introduction of a new K-9 physical education curriculum, the department is now piloting high school physical education courses designed to increase physical activity and the overall health of students, the minister said.

"Newfoundland and Labrador has the highest rate of childhood obesity in the country - and lower than average levels of physical activity," Minister Ottenheimer said. "Our government intends to change that. We need to get our children moving. Lifestyle habits formed in childhood form the basis for eating and exercise patterns later in life. It is therefore incumbent on the education system to promote and reinforce the lifelong benefits of healthy nutrition and an active lifestyle."

Physical education is mandatory in Grades K-9. The Department of Education recommends six per cent, or 90 minutes, of instructional time per cycle be allocated to the subject. However, students entering high school are not currently required to take physical education. This will change, effective September 2005, when new graduation requirements will see students complete two mandatory physical education credits at some point in their high school program. The new physical education curriculum will be fully implemented by September 2006.

This is the latest in a series of department initiatives designed to help students make positive lifestyle choices, the minister noted. For example, at the high school level, a new Healthy Living 1200 course exposes students to a wide range of physical activities, while a new nutrition course is being developed in collaboration with the Department of Health and Community Services.

"It's never too early or too late to learn the value of exercise and good nutrition in protecting your individual health against the onset of diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart disease," said Elizabeth Marshall, Minister of Health and Community Services. "It is important that we work together in promoting healthy living to further our efforts in disease prevention."

At a recent meeting of the Council of Atlantic Ministers of Education and Training (CAMET), the four ministers of education from the Atlantic region discussed how to make education issues, including physical education, a national priority. Minister Ottenheimer suggested that since the health and fitness of students is a challenge for all education departments, this is an area where the federal government could become engaged.

Minister Ottenheimer noted that the province is expanding opportunities for students to develop healthier lifestyles and our federal counterparts have a role to play as well. "After all, a healthier population would ease the burden on our health care system in the future. Meanwhile, we believe the new curriculum and graduation requirements will go a long way towards preparing our students to become healthy, active and successful citizens of tomorrow," said the minister.

Media contact: Lynn Salter, Communications, (709) 729-0048 or 685-5000

2004 09 16                      2:15 p.m.