Sports education programme

The Sports Education Programme (SEP) is a collaborative partnership between Sport Singapore (SportSG) and the Ministry of Education (MOE). Schools eligible for SEP are Primary, Secondary, Junior College, Centralised Institution and Special Education Schools. Under SEP, each school is provided with a S$10,000 dollar-to-dollar matching grant for them to take up sports programmes from an endorsed list.

The SEP aims to advocate the importance of sports education, encourage sports participation in schools and increase sporting opportunities for the young. It also serves as an integrated and structured approach to link sports service providers with schools to ensure that innovative and quality sports programmes are delivered.

Sports programmes are assessed by a panel comprising representatives from SportSG, MOE, schools, sports educators and practitioners to qualify for endorsement under the SEP.

SEP sports programmes caters for development of skills and sports knowledge of students and help promote active participation of sports in schools. The programmes also promote team spirit and character building, and aim to arouse interest in continual sports participation amongst students.

Coach Criteria

1. NROC REGISTERED

Service Providers offering programmes are required to ensure their instructors or coaches are registered under the National Registry of Coaches (NROC).  For application details on NROC, please visit the NROC website. Service Providers are strongly encouraged to advise their coaches and instructors to regularly check the NROC website for updates and information.

This is the full list of sports with SG-Coach coaching courses. To verify if your programme sport is recognized under NROC, please contact: SPORT_Coaching@sport.gov.sg for more details.

2. VALUES AND PRINCIPLES IN SPORTS (VPS)

From 1 July 2024, CoachSG shall cease to accept new applications for Provisional Coach Membership. Hence, there will no longer be public runs of standalone VPS courses being conducted. The VPS module will continue to be covered as part of the following coaching courses:

SG-Coach Theory Level 1 (By Republic Polytechnic)

SG-Coach Level 1 Integrated (By relevant NSAs)

SG-Coach Level 1 Full Integration (By relevant NSAs)

For more information on VPS, please visit the VPS page.

3. STANDARD FIRST AID

Instructor(s) / coach(es) are required to be equipped with a valid recognised Standard First Aid Certificate at point of submission and at point of conduct of programme. Please view the list of accredited 'Standard first aid with AED' courses.

4. COACH ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM

Sports providers with the exception of individuals are required to have their instructor(s) / coach(es) listed in their submitted SEP programmes to complete the Instructor's Coach's Acknowledgement Form (valid for the endorsed year).

Programme Criteria

For a programme to be recognised as a sport activity endorsed under SEP, the programme should reflect activities that not only include a physical exertion and the development of a skill, but is also governed by a set of rules that are recognised internationally. The programme submitted must align with MOE’s objectives, whose focus is to provide students with sports opportunities in a safe environment.

1. DEFENSE AND MARTIAL ARTS PROGRAMMES UNDER SEP

Sports programmes incorporating physical contact striking or sparring between participants will not be endorsed. Judo, wrestling and similar programmes may include only safe grappling. Any form of striking and choking are strictly not allowed. This must be clearly indicated in the programme submission and will be further evaluated by the panel.

2. SWIMMING PROGRAMMES UNDER SEP

All Service Providers must ensure their instructors and coaches hold these essential qualifications:

* SwimSafer Certification

* registered with the National Registry of Coaches

* valid recognised first aid certification

SwimSafer Instructor Course

Please note that it is a requirement for all swimming instructors to be registered with NROC before they can enrol in the SwimSafer Instructor Course. Places for this course will be allotted on a first-come-first-served basis.

For more information on the SwimSafer programme, please visit the  SwimSafer page. For registration of the SwimSafer Instructor Course, please call the SwimSafer Hotline 6500 5189 or email: activesg_swimsafer@sport.gov.sg  

Instructor to Student Ratio at 1:10

Instructor to student ratio for all swimming programmes must be kept at 1:10, with the exception of programmes offered to Special Education schools, which will be at a lower ratio.

3. LIFESAVING PROGRAMMES UNDER SEP

Lifesaving programmes must not be conducted at open waters and this must be clearly indicated in the programme submission.

4. RISK ASSESSMENT

A Risk Assessment Management Plan (RAMS) will be required to be submitted as part of the SEP programme submission.

All vendors conducting OAL activities must comply with the criteria on the respective compliance checklists.

A compliance checklist has been developed to ensure service providers meet the management and operation standards for water-based and height-based OAL activities. All criteria must be met before services may be procured by schools. Compliance with the checklist must be clearly indicated in the programme submission.

Please refer to the appended file for the compliance checklists which service providers must submit to schools.

For further clarifications, please contact: sport_sep@sport.gov.sg