Stakeholder Engagement Forum: Empowering Youth Through Physical Education, Sports Talent, and Climate Action

KCA University hosted a pivotal Stakeholder Engagement Meeting, which was focused on the critical intersections of school physical education, climate action, and sports talent identification and development. The meeting underscored the need to embed physical education into the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), promote active lifestyles in schools, and leverage sports as a tool for both career development and health promotion.

The meeting resulted in numerous take aways, with Prof. Vincent Onywera, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, Innovation, and Outreach (RIO) at KCA University, introducing the School Physical Activity and Sports for Health Development in Africa (SPASHDA) program, which focuses on the role of physical activity in promoting health and talent development in African schools. He emphasized the value of physical activity in preventing lifestyle diseases and improving mental health, while also promoting early identification of sports talents. He encouraged schools to use existing sports infrastructure to engage students regularly, which in turn fosters both academic performance and career growth in athletics.
“We need to keep children engaged in sports, especially during the long school recess. The infrastructure is already in place in most schools. What we need is a strategic approach to optimize there use, ensuring students stay active both during school hours and after,” Prof. Onywera urged.

The meeting also saw Mr. Ngandeu Ngatta Hugue, Unit Head and Programme Specialist in the Social and Human Sciences Division at UNESCO’s Regional Office for Eastern Africa, introduce the UNESCO Fit for Life Program, which aims at empowering individuals to adopt healthier, more active lifestyles while recognizing the broader social responsibilities we all share, including tackling climate change. This saw Ms. Jacqueline Onyango, the Senior Deputy Director of Curriculum and Research Services at KICD, highlight the importance of physical education as an integral part of Kenya’s CBC. She emphasized the urgent need for implementing policies that focus on early talent identification within school programs.

“By identifying and nurturing sports talents early, we can set children on a path to success in athletics while ensuring their physical and mental well-being,” Ms. Onyango stated. She further added that equipping teachers with the skills necessary for talent identification would be a game-changer in integrating sports with education. Ms. Onyango called for special training programs for teachers to enhance their ability to recognize and nurture potential sporting talents.

As a result of this meeting, a call to action was issued to policymakers, school administrators, teachers, and parents to work together in fostering environments where students not only excel academically but also develop the physical and mental resilience they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.
This collaborative approach will ensure that the next generation is equipped not just with knowledge but with the strength and skills to lead healthy, active, and successful lives.