By Carlena Knight-Humphreys
Dozens of school principals from primary and secondary schools across the island gathered at the Eustace Hill Campus on Wednesday for the second annual Sports-School collaboration meeting.
Under the campaign ‘We Choose Sports,’ the meeting provides an avenue for the Ministry of Sports and principals to discuss plans and initiatives for school sports, fostering a better relationship between the two. These discussions aim to prevent clashes with academic curricula, increase interest in various sporting disciplines and cultural games, and strengthen the understanding of the importance of supporting student athletes.
School sports coordinators were also present and made presentations on their respective disciplines. Alongside these presentations, Dr. Collin Greene, Commissioner of Sports, spoke with the principals about the synergy between sports and education, emphasizing the role everyone must play in ensuring student athletes succeed both on the field and in everyday life.
He also called for provisions to be made in the educational system for student athletes. According to Greene, in other countries, student athletes receive support regarding their classes due to their more demanding schedules compared to regular students. He noted that while Antigua and Barbuda provide for students with special needs, gifted students, including athletes, also require attention. This is an area he believes must be addressed and revised to help student athletes become the best versions of themselves.