Feature
No.44
May 2005
 
    

Post-Berlin Physical Education Summit Developments:
International Institutional, Continental Regional and National Perspectives
Ken Hardman, United Kingdom
 

Introduction
It is a matter of historical record that the widespread concerns, particularly in the 1990s, led to the International Council for Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE) initiated worldwide survey into the state and status of physical education in schools. An important outcome was the ICSSPE World Summit on Physical Education 3-5 November 1999 in Berlin supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). The disseminated worldwide survey findings reaffirmed the previously posited perilous situation of physical education by revealing disquieting globally common trends and issues. At best it seemed to occupy a tenuous place in the school curriculum and, generally it was not accepted on par with seemingly superior academic subjects concerned with developing a child's intellect. The survey also pointed to inadequate watching briefs on what was happening in physical education and also highlighted the need for more and better quality baseline data in each country.
The Physical Education World Summit culminated in the formulation of Action Agendas and an Appeal to UNESCO General Conference and the Ministers with responsibility for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS III) meeting in Punta del Este, Uruguay (30 November-3 December 1999). The so-called ‘Berlin Agenda’ called for governmental and ministerial action to implement policies for physical education as a human right for all children in recognition of its distinctive role in physical health, overall development and safe, supportive communities. In making the case for quality physical education, it also called for investment in initial and in-service professional training and development for well-qualified educators and support for research to improve the effectiveness and quality of physical education.
At the meeting of the International Committee for Sport Pedagogy in Manchester, UK in July, 2002, it was decided to hold a Seminar within the Pre-Olympic Congress in Thessaloniki in August 2004 to review developments in school physical education since the 1999 Berlin Summit and thereby have some indicators of short and medium term outcomes of the Summit and its Action Agendas. This issue of the ICSSPE Bulletin features edited versions of the five contributions in the Thessaloniki ICSP Seminar, which embrace inter- and non-governmental institutional initiatives, and continental regional and national perspectives.
Dr Ken Hardman
Executive Board Member
International Society for Comparative Physical Education and Sport (ISCPES)
Manchester, UK
Email: ken.hardman@tiscali.co.uk




http://www.icsspe.org/portal/bulletin-may2005.htm