National Physical Fitness Award
Encyclopedia
The National Physical Fitness Award/Assessment (NAPFA) Scheme is a test of physical fitness
for Singaporean
s 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.
The test items are:
Performances are then compared to a chart and the grades from A to F for each test item. An A grade constitutes excellent performance and an E grade constitutes barely passing. On the other hand, an F grade is an alternate term that the participant has failed that test item.
The awards are:
Bronze Award Requirements
Silver Award Requirements
Gold Award Requirements
The 'and' cannot be misinterpreted as an 'or'; no matter how high the candidate's other grades are, his/her award will be determined by his/her lowest grade. For example, if someone scores five As and one F, that person will still fail his/her NAPFA test despite the fact that he/she performed excellently in all the other stations.
Physical fitness
Physical fitness comprises two related concepts: general fitness , and specific fitness...
for Singaporean
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
s 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
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
and secondary
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
education system
Education in Singapore
Education in Singapore is managed by the Ministry of Education , which controls the development and administration of state schools receiving government funding, but also has an advisory and supervisory role in respect of private schools...
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
Trim and Fit
The Trim and Fit program was a weight loss program that targeted child obesity in Singapore schools between 1992 and 2007. Introduced by the Ministry of Education, schoolchildren under the program were educated on nutrition, calorie control, and participated in intense physical exercise and...
(TAF) Awards, other than the fitness
Physical fitness
Physical fitness comprises two related concepts: general fitness , and specific fitness...
index and the percentage of overweight
Overweight
Overweight is generally defined as having more body fat than is optimally healthy. Being overweight is a common condition, especially where food supplies are plentiful and lifestyles are sedentary...
students. Singaporeans studying within Singapore's tertiary education
Tertiary education
Tertiary education, also referred to as third stage, third level, and post-secondary education, is the educational level following the completion of a school providing a secondary education, such as a high school, secondary school, university-preparatory school...
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
Singapore Sports School
The Singapore Sports School is a specialized independent school in Singapore. It was initiated by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports , and caters to sporting teenagers who have talent in sports....
, 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
National Service in Singapore
Conscription in Singapore, called National Service , requires all male Singaporean citizens and second-generation permanent residents who have reached the age of 18 to enrol in the military...
(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
Ministry of Education (Singapore)
The Ministry Of Education is a ministry of the Government of Singapore that directs the formulation and implementation of policies related to education in Singapore.-Statutory boards:...
, 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.
Testing
NAPFA involves a series of five stations and a 2.4-km Walk-Run (1.5-mile Walk-Run) for secondary school students or a 1.6-km Walk-Run for primary school students. All of the station tests are attempted on the same day, with a 2–5 minute rest period permitted between stations. Under certain circumstances, the Walk-Run item may be attempted on a different day, although sometimes a 2-week window limit is set.The test items are:
- Sit-ups: Maximum in one minute
- Standing Broad Jump: Better of two distances
- Sit and Reach: Better of two attempts with floating zero point
- Pull-ups (for males 15 years and above only): Maximum in half-a-minute
- Inclined Pull-ups (for all females, and males up to the age of 14): Maximum in half-a-minute
- Shuttle Run: Faster of two 4×10 metre attempts
- 2.4-km/1.6-km Walk-Run: Minimum time on firm and level surface
Performances are then compared to a chart and the grades from A to F for each test item. An A grade constitutes excellent performance and an E grade constitutes barely passing. On the other hand, an F grade is an alternate term that the participant has failed that test item.
The awards are:
Bronze Award Requirements
- At least an E grade performance in all 6 test items AND
- A total of 6 or more points
Silver Award Requirements
- At least a D grade performance in all 6 test items AND
- A total of 15 or more points
Gold Award Requirements
- At least a C grade performance in all 6 test items AND
- A total of 21 or more points
The 'and' cannot be misinterpreted as an 'or'; no matter how high the candidate's other grades are, his/her award will be determined by his/her lowest grade. For example, if someone scores five As and one F, that person will still fail his/her NAPFA test despite the fact that he/she performed excellently in all the other stations.