It is important to reach everyone with the benefit of sports and there was a strong need to integrate Physical Education with Sports right at the primary school level and make it an integral part of the school curriculum to promote development of the children, said Dr. Shrikant Baldi, Principal Secretary Education, government of Himachal Pradesh on the inaugural session of the two days ‘International Workshop on Promotion of Sports and Physical Education in schools’ organised together by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India and Department of Youth Services and Sports Government of Himachal Pradesh, at HIPA, Fairlawns, here today.
Delegates from ‘Youth Sports Trust’ (YST) United Kingdom, UNICEF, Officers from Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, Laxmi Bai National University of Physical Education, Gwalior, delegates from Transstadia, Mumbai and other parts of the country participated in the workshop.Dr. Baldi said that the State had introduced Physical Education as an elective subject in plus one and plus two classes and the students have opted for it in large number. He said that in addition to physical education activities the government of Himachal Pradesh had also added two text books from class 6th to 8th containing Yoga Lessons and also throwing light on the culture of Himachal Pradesh. He said that all centers of Panchayat Yuva Krida and Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) were hundred percent functional in all the schools in the State. The inter school competitions were being organized in schools so as to imbibe discipline, leadership qualities, team spirit, obedience amongst the children at the very grass root level so as to channelize their energy in National welfare.
Mr. Injeti Srinivas Joint Secretary, Sports to Government of India said that though the National Policy on Education 1986, and Right to Education Act 2009 underscored the importance of integrating sports and Physical education with academic curriculum, yet in practice lots was to be done for providing space and time for sports and games into the school time table.
He said that despite the presence of Right to Education Act and National policy on education large number of youth especially in villages were yet to be covered under the canopy of ‘Sports for all’. He said that, the policy to be effective needs a supporting programme and delivery mechanism to incorporate the energy of Youth in Nation building and Development. He said that for promotion of sports in school education, sports related vocational training courses need to be introduced in school curriculum.
Advisor, Youth Sports Trust, United Kingdom, Sh. Kevin Barton gave a detailed power point presentation about the activities the YST had undertaken in England for catching the children young and develop their sports skills along with academics. He shared the expertise with the delegates present and also held interactive sessions.
Ms Anna Young and Ms Lisa from YST, UK also shared the methodology adopted in UK and the success story of YST from last 15 years and the way YST was using Physical Education and Sports as a tool for learning and achievement by supporting sports colleges and academies to raise the standard of students and show them the way to stay fit mentally and Physically.
Sh. J.R. Katwal, Director Youth Services and Sports HP, earlier welcomed the delegates and briefed about the PYKKA activities and the efforts the State Government was making to integrate Sports with Physical Education.
Sh.V.C. Pharka, Principal Secretary YSS was also present on the occasion.