Physical Education (PE) should be made a compulsory subject at second-level schools in Ireland, it has been claimed.

According to a new report submitted to the National Activity Planning Group, the basic curriculum needs to make sure pupils are active for at least two hours every week, the Irish Independent reports.

Minutes from a meeting of the Special Action Group on Obesity - a  Department of Health body that includes experts on children and their eating habits - also raised concerns regarding the possibility of PE time allocation reduction, claiming such a move would result in teenagers becoming less active than they are at present.

The National Activity Planning Group prepared the report for the experts - and it was put forward that PE would be eroded over time if the proposals for the subject were given the green light. 

Should the proposals go through, time allocated to PE could be reduced from 198 hours over three years to 100 hours. 

Written by Donal Walsh

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