Yoga may be made mandatory for classes 1-11

The government is seriously contemplating making yoga mandatory for students of classes 1-11 in the State.

Energy Minister D K Shivakumar made the announcement in response to a call attention notice tabled by Congress MLA G T Patil from Bilagi. Replying on behalf of the government and Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Ratnakar, Shivakumar read out a written reply stating that the government had received the L R Vaidyanathan committee report which had recommended including Yoga in the syllabus for classes 6-10.

“Accordingly, the government has filled the vacancies for yoga teachers. Thirty-five more posts of physical teachers will be filled in the coming days,” Shivakumar said and added that the government had already included a chapter on yoga for students of classes 1-5.

The government has recognised yoga as a “very important subject” and is hence encouraging students to take part in international yoga competitions and events. “Besides, as an extension of this, the proposal to make it mandatory for students of classes 1-11 to learn yoga for their own physical and health benefits is seriously being considered by the government,” Shivakumar said.