ISF and ITTF Launch First School Project to Empower PE Teachers

Jan. 13, Kampala, Uganda – In cooperation with the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), ISF has successfully delivered the first-ever ITTF School Project for Physical Education teachers in Uganda, marking an important milestone in the development of school sport education in the region.

The programme was hosted locally by the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) and brought together 30 PE teachers from across the country for an intensive seven-day training course held in last December at Elite High School. The initiative reflects ISF’s commitment to supporting international federations in reaching schools and educators through structured, high-quality education programmes.

Designed specifically for school environments, the training followed a comprehensive format combining Table Tennis Coaching (Level 1), Umpiring and Refereeing, and Competition Management. Participants received both theoretical instruction and practical, hands-on experience, equipping them with the tools to introduce and develop table tennis sustainably within schools.

The Uganda project builds on ISF’s growing cooperation with international federations in the field of education and training. Similar initiatives, such as the recent ISF–BWF PE teachers’ training programme in India, demonstrate how ISF provides international federations with effective pathways into school systems, leveraging its global school sport network to create long-term impact.

"I want to thank ISF, ITTF and USSSA for the opportunity to be part of this training, I want to call upon my fellow teachers to embrace such opportunities whenever availed to them." Aminah Nampeera, a teacher at Mbogo Mixed School.

Speaking at the event, Patrick Okanya, Head of Capacity Building at USSSA, described the training as historic, “This course is not only the first in Uganda or Africa, but also the first of its kind in the world. As USSSA, we are proud of this opportunity and look forward to its positive impact.”

ISF Academy Director Romain Fermon commended Uganda’s partnership with ISF, noting the country’s commitment to developing school sports, “This is the first training of its kind, and we are grateful to the leadership of USSSA for the warm hospitality. We look forward to more collaborations and to bringing more international sports federations on board.”

This collaboration highlights the shared vision of ISF and ITTF: empowering teachers as key drivers of youth sport development. By strengthening teachers’ technical, pedagogical and organisational capacities, the programme contributes directly to improved physical education delivery and broader access to sport for young people.

As ISF continues to expand its educational programmes worldwide, this first ITTF School Project stands as a strong example of how international collaboration can translate global expertise into meaningful local outcomes — reinforcing ISF’s mission to empower youth through sport and education.