Policy shift in Maharashtra: Play more, study better

There’s good news for students. They will soon spend less time within the four walls of a classroom and more on the playground. In a move aimed at promoting physical fitness, the state has made it mandatory for all schools to have five periods a week for sports and physical education for standards I to X. At present, private schools have only two physical education periods every week.

The state has framed a new sports policy based on the National Sports Policy, 2012. The policy will ensure teachers do not use physical education periods to teach other subjects. The government has also formed an expert panel comprising a nutritionist, sports mental health professional, educationist and a specialist in sports to review the manner in which physical education is taught in schools.

“The panel will put forth recommendations on improving the way physical education is taught in schools. Once the policy is finalised, we will issue a government resolution about it,” said a senior education official.

“Schools only give importance to maths and science. Physical education always gets step-motherly treatment. It is a ‘spare’ period which is used by subject teachers to complete their portion,” alleged psychiatrist Harish Shetty.

Principals are worried that the new policy may result in other subjects getting less time. At the IES Sule Guruji School, Dadar, of the four physical education periods, two are used as library periods. “Else, there is no time for reading in the tightly packed timetable,’’ said Suchetra Bhawalkar, principal, IES VN Sule Guruji.

At the Podar International School (SSC section), Santa Cruz, there are just two periods a week for physical education and sports. This despite the 2005 Yashpal Committee report recommending five periods a week. “Two periods a week are more than enough for such subjects,” said Ophelia Barreto, principal, Podar.

Shetty explains why physical education and exercise are important for students. "Physical exertion helps children in busting stress and develops the brain. It also helps in assimilating and absorbing what is taught in the classroom," he said.