Bill to ensure compulsory provision of playgrounds in schools underway –Enugu Lawmaker

Enugu State House of Assembly Committee on Sports, Nelson Uduji, says a new education bill seeking to ensure compulsory provision of playgrounds in schools is underway in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the amendment bill, seeking to amend the Enugu State Education Law 2004, was read for the second time at the house on Tuesday.

Uduji told NAN in Enugu that the bill, when passed, would insist that before any school, whether public or private-owned, is approved and licensed, such school must have a playground.

He said drastic action needed to be taken to check the current trend and ensure that schools are places for sports talent discovery and grooming in the state.

“By the time the bill is passed into law, it will change the present narrative of grassroots sports talent discovery and development.

“It will also build a good social engineering, even among the students and teachers, as sports grounds remain a fertile place where long-term relationships are built and nurtured,’’ the lawmaker said.

He said also that the issue of educationally-sound but dull students/pupils would be a thing of the past in the state.

“Exercise is one vital aspect of human development and growth, and when we neglect it, growth is retarded.

“We want to produce pupils and students with sound mind and agile body as well,’’ Uduji said.

He added that by not providing playgrounds, sports-inclined and talented children were not being given a fair chance to excel in what they know how to do best.

“We want to package and present the best boxers, athletes, footballers, and tennis champions and we must start from the cradle, from the playgrounds in schools,’’ the committee chairman added.

NAN reports that the bill, after its second reading, has been referred by the Speaker of the House, Edward Ubochi, to two committees of the House for input.

The house is expected to conduct a public hearing on the bill within the next two weeks.