The Department of Basic Education and the Physical Education Institute of South Africa (PEISA) will next week host the symposium, which will be an opportunity for stakeholders to debate, share and advance the interests of physical education.
The two-day symposium, which will be held from 1 April in Cape Town, will also serve as a precursor to the inaugural Physical Education Month and Physical Education Day of South Africa.
The department encourages physical education in schools and says it can and should be used as a tool in development programmes and policies, including those contributing to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs).
According to the convenor, Norman Mphake, the symposium will reinforce the instruction of curriculum-oriented physical education and act as a catalyst for promoting physical activity in all schools.
The department is expecting attendance from stakeholders including educators, researchers, content developers, institutions of higher learning, basic education and sport and recreation partners, officials and other interest groups.
"Some of the issues to be discussed at the symposium will focus on demystifying the misconceptions about the non-existence of physical education in the school curriculum," the Department said.
The Department said it has taken a deliberate step of ensuring that physical education constitutes an integral part of learning in schools, and through the Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement, learners have access to physical education as a component in the Life Orientation area.
"This contributes to the Integrated School Sport Programme, which is the pillar and bedrock of sport in the country."
The Department said it will, together with PEISA and other stakeholders, attempt to set a new world record for the most people star jumping simultaneously at multiple venues for two consecutive minutes on 8 May 2015 at 8am in various public schools across the country. This will be in celebrating Physical Education Day.
"According to the Guinness World Records, the current record was set up on 22 March 2011 in the United States of American. Twenty thousand children star jumped for two consecutive minutes.
"The symposium is the first in the series to be held and will be on the annual calendar following this edition. In observing and celebrating Physical Education Month, all schools, including Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, will be encouraged to participate in curriculum orientated physical activities," the Department said.
The theme of the symposium is Meaningful collaborations for a healthy, active and physically literate South Africa: Our children's future depends on the action we take now.
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