Vietnamese children only exercise an average of 70 minutes a week

The information was given by Mr. Ly Quoc Bien, Head of Research Department for Future Skills and Capacity Development, Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences, at the final round and award ceremony. Competition to apply and integrate the 6C strategy into teaching Physical Education at primary school level, on March 27. Activities aim to contribute to improving physical fitness, developing motor skills and creating excitement for students in daily exercise.

The 6C strategy includes 6 elements: Confidence, Contribution, Connection, Clear/Concise, Choice and Celebration. This strategy is part of the project “Developing Physical Education in primary schools in Vietnam” launched in 2020. The purpose of the project is to develop physical education in primary schools nationwide.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), by 2024, about 80% of adolescents globally have not reached the recommended level of exercise, of which the 11-17 year old group accounts for a high proportion. Women have lower activity levels than men. In Vietnam, the majority of students in this age group do not exercise enough, especially in girls the rate is up to 92%.

There are 3 factors that affect stature and physical development: genes, nutrition and exercise. Regarding movement, with today’s life, many students in urban areas do not have many opportunities to exercise outside of school. Students often study all day at school, come home in the afternoon and have little time to exercise outdoors. Therefore, if children do not actively participate in physical activity at school, they will have very little time for physical activity.

In fact, the stature of Vietnamese people has improved but is relatively slow compared to other countries in the region. Currently, the average height of young men is 168.1 cm, while the average height of young women is 156.2 cm. Compared to Southeast Asian countries, the height of Vietnamese people ranks behind Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

Physical activity includes all body movements that consume energy, not only playing sports but also activities such as walking, cycling, doing housework or climbing stairs. Maintaining regular exercise helps improve cardiovascular health, bone health, concentration and mental ability, while also supporting weight control. On the contrary, a sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of overweight, obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression and negatively affects academic performance.

According to Mr. Bien, many schools have organized extracurricular clubs to increase sports activities, but not all facilities meet the conditions in terms of facilities and funding. In addition, participating in clubs often requires paying fees, causing many students to lack the opportunity to access appropriate sports activities.

“The education sector is implementing solutions according to the 6C strategy, aiming to transition from passive to active movement for students,” Mr. Bien said, adding that the 6C Strategy applied in physical education hours through games will help all children participate confidently, thereby creating children’s excitement and love for movement.