Lack of space bane of sports in private schools, says proprietress

Iyayi, who led some of the students on tour of the United Kingdom, recently told The Guardian during one of the school’s excursion to Alpha Beach that, given the relevance of sports to the academic wellbeing of the child, it was only proper for school owners to plan towards ensuring adequate space to accommodate all sporting activities.

She added that it is only when this is put in place that students would exhibit some hidden talent in some sports yet to be featured in some schools, revealing that Caley was hoping to acquire a bigger space to groom students in other sports.

“Some of us might have an idea of the kind of sporting facilities that we would love to have but we cannot immediately have (them) because of space constraints,” she said. “Because of this, most schools focus on basketball and table tennis, which require less space.

“The child’s number one reason for being in school is not for sports – we do not run a sports academy – but we also need to involve the children in other extra-curricular activities, which sports is part of.

“I have even heard some parents complain that I have taken my child from that school because he is spending too much time doing sports. So, schools should engage their counselors to assist these kids and advice them on how to combine both aspects.”