Malaysia's Education Ministry plans sports fields for every zone to aid urban students

The Malaysian Ministry of Education is planning to construct at least one fully equipped sports field in each educational zone. This strategic move aims to provide equitable access to sports and co-curricular activities for students in urban and densely populated areas, who often face limitations due to land scarcity.

Director-General of Education, Datuk Dr. Mohd Azam Ahmad, acknowledged the challenges, particularly in urban schools where land is increasingly needed for new buildings. He noted that unlike in the past, not all schools can afford their own fields due to shrinking land availability in high-density areas. "In the past, there might have been a lot of space, but in rural areas, the issue of fields might not exist. But in urban schools, in densely populated areas, fields become an issue when we need to add buildings or build new ones, so perhaps we have to sacrifice," he explained.

To address this, the ministry is exploring a shared-use model, where a complete field in each zone would be accessible to students from several nearby schools. This approach is expected to foster student potential in sports and games. Additionally, the ministry plans to increase the number of open halls in schools that do not have fields or face space limitations. These halls can be utilized for various sports, games, and co-curricular activities, offering an alternative when outdoor facilities are unavailable.