WCED and SARLA team up to strengthen physical education in schools
14 April 2021
The Western Cape Education Department and the South African Rugby Legends Association (SARLA) have collaborated to present the World Rugby Level One Coaching Course to female Life Orientation teachers across the province.
Ismail Teladia, Senior Curriculum Planner for Life Orientation at the WCED, said the focus has been on female teachers because “it strengthens the delivery of physical education in our schools and aims to broaden the scope of female rugby in this province and in the country”.
The first training session was conducted at the end of February. Training took place in the Overberg, West Coast, Eden and Central Karoo (Oudtshoorn, George and Mossel Bay), as well as the Metro East, North and Cape Winelands Education Districts. Courses will also be presented in Beaufort West, Knysna and George as well as in the metro districts.
The teachers were exposed to excellent venues like the Newlands Rugby Stadium, Stellenbosch University Sports Science Centre and Saldanha Rugby Club and outstanding facilitators like Dr Wilbur Kraak and Adri Coetzee.
Teladia said opportunities available to female rugby players includes participation in the 15-a-side as well as 7’s format. “These competitions start at school level and progress to the World Cup and the Olympic Games. The enthusiasm and commitment from the female teachers have been encouraging and has shown the need for more of these courses. We will be providing courses for female referees in the coming weeks. Courses will also be provided for males.”
Teladia, who was a founder member of the VUKA Schools Rugby programme and later the U15 Iqhawe Week for disadvantaged schools under the auspices of SARLA, said the collaboration between the WCED and SARLA is important to enhance the rugby knowledge and opportunities for the benefit of the teachers and learners. Teladia and former Springbok rugby player Dale Sandton, will monitor the impact of these courses on the number of schools registering girls’ teams in the leagues.
