SINGAPORE — Republic Polytechnic has joined the list of schools that offer fitness programmes to get students physically ready for National Service, after earlier results showed that more students had passed their individual physical proficiency test (IPPT) from such programmes.

Four post-secondary educational institutions had participated in a 2015 pilot initiative to implement fitness programmes to build up students’ fitness levels before they enlist. A total of 906 pre-enlistees from Anderson Junior College, Temasek Polytechnic, Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College East and ITE College West participated in the fitness programmes in their schools.

These pre-enlistees fared better in their subsequent IPPT results. On average, 9 per cent more students attained a “Pass with Incentive” between 2015 and 2016, said the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (Accord) on Monday (Jan 29). Accord was formed by the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) as a feedback channel on defence matters.

RP and ITE College Central are the latest institutions to introduce similar fitness programmes in their schools in 2016.

Before joining the pilot, an RP spokesperson said its fitness programme was designed around the components of the National Physical Fitness Award (Napfa) scheme, such as shuttle run, sit and reach and standing broad jump.

It was revised after RP staff visited the army fitness centres and adjusted its programme to focus on the three IPPT stations – push-ups, sit-ups and a 2.4km run. The programme – called the Fitness 101 workshop – now consists of warm-up exercises, circuit training, a 2.4km conditioning run and cool-down exercises. Some of the exercises performed during the circuit training include burpees, flutter kicks, push-ups and sit-ups.

The workshops run from August to December every year, which coincide with the period IPPT tests are conducted. About 300 students participated in the workshops in the last academic year.

According to figures from RP, the pass rate for pre-enlistees in their schools increased by 5 to 6 per cent in the previous academic year compared to the year before. But the school did not give figures on the actual pass rate.

It was reported in 2014 that the passing rate of fitness tests among polytechnic students was about 30 per cent, which was lower than the 70 to 80 per cent at junior colleges and 50 per cent at the ITEs.

RP student Muhammad Akmal Abdul Halim, 19, said he initially questioned if the eight-week workshop would be effective. But he became more motivated after the third session when he noticed that his stamina had improved.

“It was actually quite motivating… before joining the Fitness 101, I was very relaxed, didn’t like to do sports,” added Mr Akmal, who is studying for a diploma in Materials Science.

He used to be able to do 20 push-ups in a minute, which has since increased to about 30 to 35 push-ups after the workshop.

Accord is trying to get more post-secondary educational institutions on board.

The first four institutions who participated in the pilot have since extended their programmes. At Temasek Polytechnic for instance, the programme was extended early last year to employees who are Operationally Ready National Servicemen.