This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7400333.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
PE targets 'all over the place' Government clarifies PE targets
(about 1 hour later)
The Scottish Government has been pushed to clarify plans for boosting physical education, amid concern its plans were in disarray. The Scottish Government has been forced to clarify its physical exercise targets for pupils, in the wake of comments by its schools minister.
The call came after Schools Minister Maureen Watt declined to tell BBC Scotland whether she would honour an SNP pledge on specialist PE teachers. Maureen Watt told BBC Scotland plans for two hours' activity per week could include non-curricular activities, such as walking to school.
The Liberal Democrats accused her of being "all over the place". The government later said it was committed to two hours of PE and extra opportunities, outside the school day.
But Ms Watt insisted that the two hour per week PE target would improve the health of youngsters. The Liberal Democrats said the policy was "all over the place".
The SNP election manifesto laid out a commitment to ensure every pupil had two hours of quality PE each week, delivered by specialist PE teachers. Outlining the government's vision on BBC Radio Scotland's Scotland at Ten programme on Tuesday, Ms Watt said: "What we're saying is we're going to make sure that children have two hours of good physical exercise every week.
Ms Watt repeatedly refused to say whether the pledge would be delivered in full, and suggested pupils walking to and from school could form part of the two-hour target. She added: "That could involve walking to school."
She said: "What we're saying is were going to make sure that children have two hours of good physical exercise every week. That could involve walking to school."
The minister insisted: "We're making sure children have good physical exercise. It involves using the whole school day to make sure children get two hours of physical education."The minister insisted: "We're making sure children have good physical exercise. It involves using the whole school day to make sure children get two hours of physical education."
Lib Dem health spokesman Ross Finnie said urgent clarification was now needed on the two-hour target, adding: "The SNP is all over the place on physical exercise targets for children. In a statement on Wednesday, the government said it was committed to a minimum of two hours, quality PE being offered by schools as part of the curriculum.
It went on: "In addition to this, physical activity and sport will offer extra opportunities to children outwith these two hours during break times and lunchtimes and beyond the school day."
Lib Dem health spokesman Ross Finnie said: "The SNP is all over the place on physical exercise targets for children.
"There is confusion as to how it fits into the SNP's stated aim not to be prescriptive about how long schools spend on any particular subject.""There is confusion as to how it fits into the SNP's stated aim not to be prescriptive about how long schools spend on any particular subject."
Ms Watt also refused to say whether the SNP manifesto pledge to ensure every pupil had two hours of quality PE each week - carried out by specialist PE teachers - would be delivered in full.