The first Global Status Report on Quality Physical Education reveals that most school children worldwide lack access to essential physical education. The UNESCO report, titled “Global State of Play,” shows that only 58% of countries require physical education for girls, and just 7% of schools provide equal physical education time for boys and girls.

The report highlights that two-thirds of secondary and over half of primary students globally do not receive the required minimum weekly physical education. Additionally, less than half of primary school teachers have specialized training in physical education. Funding disparities are significant, with two-thirds of countries spending less than 2% of their education budget on physical education, while about 10% allocate more than 7%.

The report criticizes the gap between policy and practice, noting that although 54.5% of countries have policies for equal physical education time for boys and girls, only 7.1% of schools implement this policy. It also points out that one in three students with disabilities still lacks access to physical education.

UNESCO emphasizes the need for Quality Physical Education (QPE) and calls for increased investment in teacher training, infrastructure, and inclusive programs. The report includes 10 indicators to help countries evaluate and improve their physical education standards.

Source: PTI

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