SINGAPORE — Have compulsory fitness programmes at the polytechnics to help male students gear up for National Service (NS), suggested members at a forum to discuss ways to boost physical fitness before NS.

The passing rate of fitness tests among polytechnic students is lower than those from junior colleges (JCs) and the Institutes of Technical Education (ITEs).

Educators at the forum said the pass rate for JC students is between 70 and 80 per cent, and about 50 per cent for those in the ITEs.

However, the rate is about 30 per cent for polytechnic students.

Participants said that is because physical education programmes at the polytechnics are optional.

Mr Choo Keng Hui, director of student development at Singapore Polytechnic, said: “In Singapore Poly, there are about 50 different courses, or close to 50 different courses, and every course has a different curriculum.

“A compulsory structure will require a lot of planning and coordination, and we need some time before we can put this programme through.”

Second Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing said: “This is something MINDEF will want to work closely with the polytechnics to see how we can institute more structured programmes in the form of more regular NAPFA (National Physical Fitness Award) fitness testing, diet and lifestyle recommendations to help them keep fit, and also how to institute the mindset whereby individual students take ownership of their fitness.”

Nearly 60 participants attended the forum at the Defence Technology Tower.

The participants were made up of pre-enlistees, full-time National Servicemen, citizen soldiers - those who have completed their NS stints - as well as educators from tertiary institutions.

The forum also discussed ways to help citizen soldiers keep fit.

One way is to encourage more employers to give incentives to staff who pass their IPPT tests.

Another is a call for the current IPPT test structure to be tweaked, so that those who are weaker in certain fitness segments can choose to opt out of them.

The suggestions will be considered by a high-level committee, set up to boost National Service. The committee is set to announce its recommendations in the middle of the year. CHANNEL NEWSASIA