By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

PUBLIC school principals and administrators have expressed concerns about the one hour of daily physical exercise public school students are now required to perform, according to Education Commissioner David M. Borja.
On Feb. 5, the Board of Education approved the new “wellness policy” requiring all students to undergo one hour of daily physical exercise to prevent obesity and the onset of diabetes.
Borja said administrators in junior high and high schools are concerned that the new policy consumes “time allotted for core subjects.”
PSS requires kindergarten to sixth graders to complete one credit of PE before they can be promoted to junior high while 2 credits are needed for a senior to graduate from high school.
Borja said the new PE policy appears not to be a problem for elementary students.
“In the elementary schools, it’s not a concern. The additional 20 minutes is scheduled before their lunch periods so when you see them running around they are having the PE,” he said.
But on the secondary level, each subject has to be cut by 10 minutes for the new PE policy, he added.
He said although PE usually requires appropriate fitness attire, PSS may not require it due to budgetary constraints.
“This will also mean building shower facilities…or gymnasiums with shower rooms like those we have at Marianas High School,” Borja said.
Borja said there is also a concern that PSS doesn’t have enough PE teachers.
He said these “concerns” will be reviewed by PSS.