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.

SEP sports programmes cater 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 cultivate interest in continual sports participation amongst students.

Coach Criteria

1. COACH CRITERIA

Service Providers offering programmes in schools must ensure their coaches meet the following requirements:

NROC Requirement

• To be a NROC-certified coach. For application details on NROC, please visit the NROC website: https://coachsg.sportsingapore.gov.sg/nroc ↗ (opens in new tab)

MOE-Registered (where applicable)

• For programme lasting more than 8 hours per contract (for example, 1 term of weekly 2-hour sessions), coach is required to be MOE-registered. For application details, please visit the MOE website: https://www.moe.gov.sg/education-in-sg/our-programmes/cca/register ↗ (opens in new tab)

Replacement Coach(es)

• In the event of last-minute changes of coaches, Service Providers must ensure that replacement coach(es) meet the NROC requirement and must be MOE registered (for programmes exceeding 8 hours).

Non-Compliance

• Failure to meet the above coach requirements may result in de-endorsement of the programme.

2. OTHER CERTIFICATIONS

Swimming

All swim coaches conducting SEP swimming programmes must also have a valid SwimSafer 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.

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

Recreational Kayaking

All coaches conducting recreational kayaking SEP programmes must also have a valid recreational coaching certification.

SEP service providers must ensure that all coaches fulfil these criteria at the point of programme submission and at the point of conduct of the SEP programme.

Programme Criteria

For a programme to be recognised as a sport activity endorsed under SEP, Service Providers should adhere to the following guidelines when submitting their programme:

• Programme Objective should clearly reflect the aim of the sport programme, demonstrating substantial physical sports components and align with MOE's objective of providing students with sports opportunities in a safe environment. This may include, but is not limited to, the type of sport skills developed, and the values instilled through sport.

• Session Description should clearly reflect the skills to be learned, including the specific skills being developed, and may incorporate a set of internationally recognised rules in tandem with the age-appropriateness and the learners' current skill sets, where applicable.

• For Sport SPED/Inclusive Programmes – Service Providers must apply the T.R.E.E.S (Teaching Style, Rules, Equipment, Environment and Safety) framework to reflect the modifications required to conduct the sport activity for SPED/Inclusive programmes.

1. SELF - DEFENSE / MARTIAL ARTS PROGRAMMES:

Service Providers offering Self - Defense/Martial Arts programmes must adhere to the following guidelines:

1. The following high-risk techniques will not be endorsed:

   • Any form of locks, throws, grappling and choking.
     

2. Permitted Modifications

   • For activities that involve striking or sparring between partners involving physical contact, Service Providers must state clearly in their submission on how these activities will be delivered safely.
     
     (i.e. Session Description: This session covers basic striking techniques. Striking Technique will be practiced individually against padded equipment or through shadow drills, with no direct partner contact.)
     

3. Protective Equipment

   • Service Providers must clearly state in their submission the type of protective equipment provided to participants, as required for the activities conducted.
     

2. SWIMMING PROGRAMMES UNDER SEP

Coach to Student ratio for all swimming programmes must be kept at 1:10 or lower.

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

All Service Providers conducting Outdoor Adventure Learning (OAL) activities must comply with the criteria on the respective compliance checklists.

OAL activities include:

• Kayaking

• Canoeing

• Dragon boating

• Climbing

• Swimming

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 ↗ (opens in new tab) for the compliance checklists which service providers must submit to schools.

For further clarifications, please contact: sport_sep@sport.gov.sg ↗ (opens in new tab)