Two more hours of fun in college: the “refocused” system of priority education

“The results of the first two years of tests, in 715 voluntary centers, of the system “Two hours of extra physical activity and sports per week in middle school” showed the adequacy of the measure for students middle school far from regular practice, its compatibility with physical education and sports (EPS) and the offer of school sports associations”, pointed out the Ministry of National Education in an official text for administrators, published in last week in the Official Journal of National Education.

“However, the system is still seen as complex to implement and generalizing it to all 7,000 colleges does not seem sustainable. That is why it was decided to refocus this system, free for families, only on colleges that are designated as Rep / Rep +, areas where the license level is the lowest, ” said this newsletter.

“Philosophy doesn’t change”

Before the start of the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, two measures were launched in recent years in schools to “make France a sporting country” and to fight against physical and lifestyle inactivity quiet among the younger ones. These were “30 minutes of daily physical activity” from CP to CM2, general in 2022, and “an additional two hours of sport for middle school students” (2HSC) confirmed for more than two years, expanded to 700 middle schools last year and expanded, at the beginning of the 2024 school year, in priority education areas.

“The philosophy of the system does not change: it is a question, in addition to PE, to encourage, through a new educational offer, the use of regular physical activity for middle school students who are not enrolled or the school club or society. , with special attention to young girls and young people with disabilities, to contribute to the development of their well-being and health,” reveals the text.

A report from Injep (National Institute of Youth and Popular Education), in January 2024, indicated that the students “who are less likely to use sports were not the first to enter the 2HSC program”, although they were the expected to have a significant impact on students leaving sports.