Emphasis must be on enjoyment and fitness, when the emphasis shifts from enjoyment to achievement, such training can make demands of discipline and practice that can create stress at the school stage. So, all students must be involved in health and physical education activities, however, those who choose to excel in games and sports need to be provided adequate opportunities. Physical development supports mental and cognitive development, especially in young children. The capacity to think, reason, and make sense of the self and the world, and to use language, is intimately connected with acting and interacting - doing things by oneself and with others is the precondition for all development and healthy physical growth of all children. This requires that the basic needs in terms of adequate nutrition, physical exercise, and other psycho-social needs are addressed.
Guidelines for SchoolsÂ
- Every school needs to offer health and physical education as a compulsory subject from classes I-X.
- One period per day needs to be allocated in the timetable for this area of Health and Physical Education for every class from I-X.
- Health and Physical Education include Health, Physical Education, sports, and yoga.
- Formally, yogic activities need to be introduced from class VI onwards
- More emphasis should be given to practice related to Physical Education activities.
- All schools should have minimum space for playgrounds and equipment.
- In case space is not available, the school can utilize the space available in the community. However, given the safety concerns, it needs to be ensured that the place is nearby and safe.
- All children need to be involved in free play in formal and informal games, yoga, and sports activities for physical and psycho-social development.
- While organizing games, sports, yoga, and other activities, the safety and security of the children need to be ensured.
- All Physical education-related activities - Sports, games, yoga need to be organized under the guidance and supervision of teachers (physical education or other teachers).
- First Aid Box to be kept available and ready with fresh medicines and ointments. Students need to be given orientation and practice on using First Aid Box
- The school must have linkages to the nearby Primary Health Centre and Hospital.
- Advocacy activities for health and physical education to be organized at the school level at a regular interval (e.g. Parent-teacher meeting, annual day function, school management committee meeting, etc.).
- This subject needs to be given equal status with other subjects. Criteria need to be developed for assessing and ensuring progress in learning in this area by the school.
- In view of developing this area as a discipline gradually and to develop knowledge about the importance of this area and practices, theory components (Keeping in view age appropriateness) have been introduced since the primary stage in the NCERT's Health and Physical Education Syllabus. However, the theory component has very little space in comparison to the practical.
- Up to the primary stage, since the focus is on the practical aspect, services of any teachers teaching other subject areas can be utilized for taking health and physical education.
- From upper primary till a secondary stage, Physical Education Teachers may be employed on a part-time basis however willing teachers of other subject areas may continue conducting activities under Health and Physical Education.
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