Three compulsory physical education lessons per week in schools across Europe?

The Culture and Education Committee of the European Parliament adopted by an overwhelming majority a report by the Hungarian member of parliament Pal Schmitt. This report concluded that physical education should be compulsory in primary and secondary schools and that children should at least have three physical education lessons per week. The report also calls for a better integration between sports and academic subjects in schools.

The recommendations are of great importance given the growing rates of overweight and obesity among European youth. Despite this obesity epidemic, the time allocated to physical education in schools has gone down from an average of 121 minutes per week to 109 since 2002.

The report is scheduled to be put to a plenary vote in November in Strasbourg.