|
PROMISING young athletes will now get a head start in their pursuit to become champions.
Under a pilot scheme launched by the Ministry of Education (MOE) on Thursday, four Junior Sports Academies (JSAs) will be set up across the island next month.
They will focus on six sports - badminton, netball, swimming, table tennis, track and field, and wushu.
It is the first time MOE is focusing its efforts on developing future sports champions. Previous efforts, such as its Sports Education Programme and Centres of Excellence for Sports, have largely encouraged mass participation, rather than high performance.
Announcing the details of the programme at the Singapore Schools Sports Council's annual general meeting on Thursday, Minister of State for Education RAdm (NS) Lui Tuck Yew said: 'Early identification and development of sports talent is necessary for long-term success. Our first strategy is to work with primary schools to identify and develop sporting talent.'
Currently, most talent identification programmes start around the age of 12. The Singapore Sports School is one example. It scours the island for the best 12-year-olds.
Under the JSA two-year pilot project, the best athletes in the 2007 Primary 4 cohort will be hand-picked.
About 280 pupils - who have done well at the national schools championships, or have been nominated by coaches and teachers - will be admitted for the first year.
Even those who are not familiar with the sports may be given a chance, if they have do well in their NAPFA tests.
Shortlisted candidates will then attend selection trials before places are offered.
Read the full report in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.
| 
