MY NIECE is in primary school and she has physical education (PE) every Wednesday. However, she says she doesn't like sports activities like running 1.6km or running races. Instead, she says she likes badminton and other sports-related games. Her teachers rarely let the pupils play games because of the focus on passing Nafa fitness tests.

It is true the pupils should be training for these tests and should take them seriously. But sports is supposed to be enjoyable and to help pupils relieve stress. It is pointless running and sweating profusely when you are not enjoying yourself.

My niece often comes home complaining of pain in her leg or back. Children are not athletes and PE is about having fun and relieving stress. Instead of telling the children to run so many laps, teachers could divide PE lessons into a combination of fitness drills and sports-related games.

Koh Hui Ling (Ms)

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Apr 3, 2008.