As part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening Physical Education (PE) in schools, 33 coaches from the Siyaphakama Zwide Schools Programme and the Northern Area Schools Sports Hub (NASSH) participated in a three-day PE training workshop from 24–26 June 2026 at the Human Movement Science Department, Nelson Mandela University.
The workshop was facilitated by Dr Deborah Zeller, a Physical Education specialist, alongside Dr Danielle Dolley and Mooveshni Dumalingam from Nelson Mandela University. Building on previous workshops, this second training series focused on supporting coaches to move beyond understanding key PE concepts towards confidently implementing quality Physical Education in their schools. Particular attention was given to lesson progression, helping coaches address common challenges experienced when planning and delivering meaningful learning experiences.
The highly practical workshop provided coaches with opportunities to actively participate in teaching activities, lesson demonstrations, and progression strategies that can be directly applied within their own school and community settings. Coaches strengthened their skills in teaching fundamental movement skills, planning structured and inclusive PE lessons, managing learner participation, and using effective coaching techniques to create engaging learning environments.
By building coaches’ confidence and competence, the training aims to improve the quality of Physical Education in under-resourced schools, ensuring more children have opportunities to develop movement competence, physical literacy, and a lifelong enjoyment of physical activity.
The workshop forms part of the work of the UNESCO Chair on Physical Activity and Health in Educational Settings, which promotes evidence-based approaches to improving children’s health, wellbeing, and learning through quality Physical Education. It also contributes to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) by strengthening local capacity and supporting inclusive, equitable, and high-quality learning opportunities for all learners.
