NCERT for mandatory health, physical education

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has made a strong pitch for making health and physical education a compulsory subject for students of classes I to X in schools across the country.

It has also recommended for "a formal" introduction of the "yogic activities" in the schools from Class VI onwards.

The NCERT is an autonomous organisation, set up in 1961, to assist and advise the central and state governments on policies and programmes for qualitative improvement in school education.

"Every school needs to offer health and physical education as a compulsory subject from classes I to X. One period per day needs to be allocated in the timetable for health and physical education for every class from I-X," the council recommended, issuing a set of guidelines for the conduct of health and physical education classes.

The schools should develop criteria for assessment of the progress of their students' learning in health and physical education, and take corrective measures to help improve those lagging behind others, it also suggested.

This subject should be given "equal status" with other subjects and more emphasis should be given on practice of the physical education activities than on their theories, it added.

This comes months after the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) made health and physical education mandatory for the students of classes IX to XII, directing its over 20,000 schools across the country to reserve one period for it every day.

Laying down the "basic principals" for the conduct of health and physical education activities, the NCERT said that the emphasis must be on "enjoyment and fitness" of the students.

"When the emphasis shifts from enjoyment to achievement, such training can make demands of discipline and practice that can create stress at the school age. Participation of children in free play, informal and formal games, yoga and other sports activities is essential for their physical and psycho-social development," it added.

For the schools lacking space, the council suggested that they can consider utilising the space available in their vicinity for the community.

"Safety and security of the children need to be ensured while organising games, sports, yoga and other activities. All physical education-related activities should be held under the guidance and supervision of the teachers. Schools must have linkages to the nearby primary health centre and hospital," the council added.