The recommendations form part of David Crawford’s review into sport. The review took almost 15 months to complete and has 39

recommendations, including boosting the presence of sport in schools, increasing after-school sport and making physical education part of the national curriculum by 2012.

ACT Education Minister Andrew Barr, who is Australia’s only education and sports minister, welcomed the recommendations,

saying the ACT was already exceeding the new benchmarks.

While there is a national mandate for at least two hours of physical activity each week for students, ACT kindergarten to Year 2 students undertake 30 minutes of activity each day aimed at developing gross motor skills. Students between Years 3 and

10 take 150 minutes each week of activity, ranging from moderate to vigorous.

In 2007, the ACT Government issued its Get a Move On policy paper, which elevates the importance of sport across all ACT

schools. ‘‘There is very clear evidence that academic outcomes are improved when students participate in quality physical education programs, and while there are strong results for girls, physical activity is particularly relevant for boys and

especially for boys at risk of disengaging from school,’’ Mr Barr said.

While he acknowledged concern regarding competing demands on the national curriculum, Mr Barr said ACT schools had made the space to fit sport into the school day and would probably be the first jurisdiction to implement PE as part of the national curriculum.

‘‘Given that we are already leading the nation in the provision of physical education in schools, I think we will be in a good position to adopt it by the 2012 deadline,’’ he said.

‘‘But I would caution against tight timeframes for the other states and territories which might present a challenge for some.’’