Implementing sports education in schools has remained a challenge despite having policies in place and there needs to be a change in mindset, Pradeep Yadav, Principal Secretary, School Education, said at an interactive session here recently.
“Despite Tamil Nadu having pioneering policies and mandatory physical training [PT] periods, the implementation and execution on the ground has not taken off,” he said, while moderating a session on making sports part of the mainstream in schools with Saumil Majmudar, co-founder and CEO, EduSports. The session was organised by Chennai International Centre.
Mr. Yadav also said there was too much pressure on students on the academic front, and sports took a backseat.
Mr. Majmudar said introduction of sports education in schools with focus on a possible career was a wrong approach. “People in schools learn history and biology, and they might not build a career on it. The specialisation narrows down at a later stage. Similarly, sports should be looked at as a foundation and improving fitness of students,” he said.
Mr. Majmudar also said that fitness assessment of students should be part of the report card, and if it focussed on an individual by comparing with an overall average, it would get parents involved.
He noted that Indian sports such as kabaddi and kho kho did not need any infrastructure and could be used for sports education.
Mr. Majmudar also said companies’ corporate social responsibility funds could be tapped into.
