Over 90 percent of parents are unhappy with the amount of time that is being dedicated to physical education, according to MummyPages research.
As primary school children are already two weeks into the new school year, many of them will only be starting PE classes this week.
With the issue of obesity becoming one of heightened national concern to parents, medical professionals and policymakers, very little notable progress is being made in tackling the issue.
And with a shocking one in four children being classified as overweight or obese, Ireland is on its way to becoming the fattest nation in Europe by 2030, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The research highlights how nearly three quarters of parents feel their child is not getting enough physical activity each day, as the mandatory minimum currently sits at just 30 minutes a week.
Of the 1,004 mums surveyed, 82 percent of them want there to be at least 30 minutes set aside from each school day for PE.
“As it stands, Ireland ranks lowest in Europe for the amount of time given to formal physical education within the national curriculum while at the same time we are set to be the fattest nation in Europe by 2030,” says MummyPages’ Mum-in-Residence, Laura Erskine.
“Research has shown that even an extra 15 minutes per day of moderate physical activity can actually half the risk of obesity in school-going children.”
MummyPages is now calling on Ministers for Education, for Health and for Children to extend the minimum mandatory time dedicated to physical education within the school week.
“It’s a no-brainer. Not only do children who exercise daily, actually perform better academically in school, are better behaved and less likely to develop mental health issues during childhood.
“They will have a better lifetime earning potential and ultimately cost the Government less in social welfare and health expenses.”
Sign our petition if you want to see the weekly minimum mandatory time devoted to physical education in schools increased.
