By Debbie Yong , Gracia Chiang

Go to a school near you - for that early morning qigong perk-up or that after-work jog.

That would be nice for recreational joggers such as Sunday Times reader Goh Kian Huat.

After all, a number of sports fields at Singapore schools are underutilised before and after school hours.

'You can get a better workout on a proper track, without having to look out for cars and traffic lights,' said Mr Goh, 46, an executive.

He is aware that many schools, junior colleges and polytechnics do have schemes that allow the public to book their facilities.

But his point, in recent letters to the press, is that in land-scarce Singapore, many such schools are near housing estates and convenient for members of the public who just want to walk in, exercise quickly and leave.

Former national sprinter Paul Su, 48, agreed, noting that finding a place to work out if you are not affiliated to an official sports organisation can be quite a chore.

He has had to put up with crowded tracks at public stadiums far from his home.

For the past eight years, though, Mr Su, who still participates in annual track competitions, has been running at Singapore Polytechnic's tracks.

And, out of goodwill, he dishes out advice to young athletes from the institution's track team.

Mr Goh wants schools, especially those with large sports facilities, to be made more accessible to the public. He cited the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) and said its Free To Play scheme could be expanded.

Under this free year-old scheme, 50 primary schools allow the public to use their fields from 3pm to 7pm on Saturdays, and from 9am to 7pm on Sundays.

The SSC also has a fee-based Dual Use Scheme. Started in 2005, it allows the fields of 70 primary and secondary schools to be leased to the public.

A two-hour booking costs $50, and a four-hour exclusive-use booking, $170.

Of the 10 polytechnics and junior colleges that The Sunday Times spoke to, nine said they allowed joggers from the neighbourhood free use of their running tracks before and after school hours.

Among them are Serangoon Junior College (SRJC), Nanyang Junior College (NYJC), Temasek Junior College, Victoria Junior College (VJC), Singapore Polytechnic and Nanyang Polytechnic.

As for other facilities such as tennis courts or swimming pools, requests for their use are assessed on a case-by-case basis, and often come with rental charges.

'The school curriculum has to come first,' explained Mr Tan Yew Hwee, the physical education head at VJC.

A St Andrew's Junior College spokesman said its sports facilities were already fully utilised for sports practices and physical education classes.

Schools also cite security issues as a worry.

'Unlike secondary schools, many JCs don't have an external fence for their fields and other sports facilities,' VJC's Mr Tan said.

The principal of NYJC, Mr Kwek Hiok Chuang, said about 50 to 70 residents have been jogging on his school's track in the mornings and evenings.

To handle such 'outside' presence, the school has engaged a security agency to patrol the college 24 hours a day, even during school holidays.

Most schools now require visitors to sign in at their security guardhouses.

Common problems, according to the schools, are littering, vandalism and destruction of property.

Still, ordinary users and athletes that The Sunday Times spoke to felt that there could be more 'give and take'.

For one group of 40 senior citizens in Hougang, a 'symbiotic' relationship with SRJC has existed for the past eight years.

They hold their qigong classes at a corner of the college's running tracks every weekday morning.

A laughter exercise group also meets there on three Saturdays a month.

The groups are organised by the Hougang Zone 5 Residents' Committee (RC), located just beside the school.

In return for the school's hospitality, RC members regularly conduct exercise workshops and participate in the school's sports festivals.

Mr Tan Teck Hock, SRJC's principal, said: 'Keep your school closed and people will still climb over the fence. Might as well open the doors and engage them in a productive way.'

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Aug 3, 2008.