National Physical Fitness Award
The National Physical Fitness Award/Assessment (NAPFA) Scheme is a test of physical fitness for Singaporeans as part of Singapore's Sports For Life programme. NAPFA was launched in January 1982 as a standardised assessment of overall fitness for the general population and to stimulate interest in physical fitness.
Schools within Singapore's primary and secondary education system are required to participate in NAPFA award tests each year, in April for secondary schools and in August for primary schools respectively. It is one of the three criteria for banding for the Trim and Fit (TAF) Awards, other than the fitness index and the percentage of overweight students. Singaporeans studying within Singapore's tertiary education system, or those who have graduated from the education system are not required to participate, but are strongly encouraged to do so.
Despite the requirement for mandatory participation, failing to achieve at least a passing grade (E) usually does not carry any academic consequences for primary and secondary school students, although students are still strongly encouraged to pass. Exceptions include sports-based schools such as the Singapore Sports School, and might yield non-academic consequences, such as the requirement to further retake the tests or the required participation in the Trim and Fit programme.
A minimum of a silver grade allows Singaporean males who have reached the age of 18 to perform just 9-weeks of Basic Military Training (BMT) in their National Service (NS) period, instead of the usual 13-weeks if the silver grade is not attained. In addition, medically fit servicemen who have attained a silver grade enjoy a further one-month exemption at the end of their full-time NS period.
According to data from the Ministry of Education, the percentage of students passing NAPFA has been increasing steadily over the years, from 58% in 1992 to 74% in 1998, and further to 80% in 2007.
Read more about National Physical Fitness Award: Testing
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