A consultation on meeting with relevant stakeholders was conducted and discussions of feasible methods of Physical Activity Promotion at educational setting was conducted. Many novel methods were suggested by the stakeholders based on their educational setting.
Pre-school stakeholders discussed on conducting an activity based educational system to teach mathematics, environmental studies and languages improving of literacy and language skills using active modes of education avoiding sedentary lifestyle, facilitating children to be more independent and exploring while ensuring the safety, promoting both gross motor and fine motor skills at the preschool and home environment and many more ideas were put forward.
School setting stakeholders discussed on allocating a play or exercise period following the interval instead of morning exercise implementing short exercise breaks between periods provision of 20% of the total marks for term tests for engaging in regular physical activity at school making Physical Education a compulsory subject for G.C.E. Ordinary level and other possible methods were discussed
Higher educational institution stakeholders discussed on improving awareness and attitudes of academic staff, parents and students on benefits of physical activity during the orientation program ,empowering student unions to promote physical activity among students establishment of programs to promote aerobics, dancing, recreational sports and competitive sports, implementing short exercise breaks between lectures were put forward along with many more feasible methods
Way forward was presented by Dr. Thanuja Wickramarachchi, Registrar in Community Medicine, at Directorate of NCD. Directorate of Non-Communicable Diseases will be lead the process of development of guidelines along with the expert opinion from the subcommittee appointed and Sri Lanka Sports Medicine Association.