27 August 2007
Dubai: Fatima, an overweight 15-year-old pupil from India, spends up to six hours a day on the internet. The rest she spends indoors watching television.
As more and more young people across the UAE opt for the computer over the playground, Fatima is not alone, with increasing numbers of children contending with weight-related health problems.
"There's nothing else to do .... It's too hot to go outside, so I spend most of my time in chat rooms and on social networking sites," she said.
With sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits contributing to staggering obesity levels, public and private schools have introduced measures to combat the problem at school, focusing on health and nutrition awareness, with more focus on physical education.
Abdul Aziz Sulaiman, Director of the Financial Affairs Department at Dubai Education Zone, said that rules have been put in place to regulate the kind of food available in the public school system.
"The school nurse is required to inspect the food every day, especially the quality of the sandwiches," he said.
Some private schools have responded to the problem, placing more emphasis on nutritious food and sports programmes. "We have worked ... to devise a healthy eating programme comprising salads, fresh fruits and yoghurt served with a well-balanced hot meal choice, accompanied by water, fresh juice and milk," said Greenfield Community School Director of Admissions, Susie Gill.
"[Our school also] recognises the importance of physical activity ... and offers more physical education ... than the basic curriculum requirements."
Lack of gymnasiums
The lack of sporting facilities in some schools is staggering. According to Khalid Shehail, Director of the Education Building Department at the Ministry of Education, around 60 per cent of public schools in the UAE lack a gymnasium.
"We have to schedule most of our physical education classes early in the morning since [it] is cooler," said Na'ema Jaafar, Principal of Al Afiya public school. "I have had cases of girls [fainting] or becoming severely dehydrated as they play in the sun."
To revamp physical education in the public school system, a new curriculum has been developed in conjunction with international humanitarian organisation, Right to Play (RTP).
"We are currently in the midst of workshops for all physical education teachers in 47 schools, with the curriculum focusing much more on the health aspect," said RTP project consultant Svein Sletten, adding that approximately 25,000 students will benefit from the project by the end of the 2007-2008 academic year.
"We hope to see more children taking part in physical education and enjoying it and even pursuing more activities after school as well," he said.
- With inputs by Abbas Al Lawati, Staff Reporter
By Zoi Constantine and Siham Al Najami
Gulf News 2007. All rights reserved.
