Play vital in learning process

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The arrangements by some schools to allow students to watch the World Cup final are to be lauded ("Big match: Some schools and firms make plans"; last Saturday).

The schools not only showed care and concern for students who were football fans, but also greatly improved bonds with them. The students, in turn, would feel motivated to perform better.

Schools are places of academic learning and character-building, where children develop into all-round students who go on to become better citizens.

The education system should strive to look beyond book learning and create a climate where students can make use of various resources and opportunities to become better individuals.

Fun and games are important in the learning process. Play is a route to learning at the subconscious level, and it relaxes the mind.

We, however, tend to remove play and recreation from the timetable once our young start formal schooling. This results in children who become bookworms with poor social skills.

While the importance of education cannot be stressed enough, the importance of having fun cannot be overlooked.

We need to re-evaluate the role and importance of play within the structure of the school curricula.

The enlightened approach shown by those schools that made World Cup arrangements should inspire other schools to provide more opportunities for students to broaden their horizons.

V. Subramaniam (Dr)