Palaro must be reviewed with K-12 in place–Poe

SEN. Grace Poe yesterday called for a review of rules and regulations of government-run sports events like the Palarong Pambansa in the wake of the implementation of the K-12 curriculum next year.

With an additional two years in high school added to the revised curriculum, Poe said that age could pose as a contentious issue in the Palaro, the annual multievent games organized by the Department of Education.

“With an additional two years in the country’s high school program, regulations on school levels and age requirements, particularly in the Palarong Pambansa, should be reviewed by the DepEd,” said Poe.

The 59th edition of the Palarong Pambansa is slated in August next year in Albay.

“For sure, many records will be broken because the participants would be two years older than usual limit and presumable stronger and more experienced,” she said.

Poe hopes the Palaro organizers would entertain the possibility of creating new divisions for a level playing field among student-athletes.

“The Palaro may have had only elementary- and high school-level competitions, but these could be redefined to elementary, junior and senior high school levels,” she said.

If the changes indeed push through, Poe said past Palaro records should be properly archived by the DepEd.

“We must never forget achievements of those kids who had their roots in the Palaro and went on to carve their niche in higher levels of competition,” she added.