Plan to develop sports in Punjab schools

Education Minister Dr. Upinderjit Kaur presiding over a high powered
committee meeting convened especially to develop sports activities in
the schools at Chandigarh on Monday.

by Punjabnewswire4u (Balbir)
CHANDIGARH, OCT 11
Furthering the "Khedo Punjab" programme launched by the State Education Department, Dr Upinderjit Kaur has asked the officers to effectively utilize the services of physical teachers by setting apart at least one period every day for physical education and sports in schools.
While presiding over a high powered committee meeting convened especially to develop sports in the schools, she directed that at least one period a day should be compulsorily set apart in school curriculum for physical activities, right from the elementary level.
She stressed that the health and well being of each child admitted in the schools is my utmost concern leading to healthy society. To ensure proper participation of students, the Minister directed that each school must send atleast one team in the block level tournament.
"The performance of physical teachers would be evaluated on the basis of achievements of the players produced by them to be monitored by the concerned District Assistant Education Officer", she added.
With a view to promote sports and games in the schools, Dr Upinderjit Kaur asked the local authorities to adequately maintain school playgrounds. She directed the school heads to ramp up their games
infrastructure and physical education teachers must be equipped with the latest information trough refresher courses to train the budding players.
To harness, available and potential sporting talent among students, she emphasized that a well designed competition structure from the block level be planned by the education department in consultation
with experts in the field including higher academic institutions for providing optimum exposure to youngsters.
The Minister said that the sports is a common cultural phenomenon shared by the whole of mankind, responds to man's inherent desire for physical and mental activity. Besides, it imparts a sense of
fulfillment and richness to human life. "It also contributes to the national economy and promotes mutual harmony, friendship, co-existence leading to better international understanding. It is therefore of the
greatest significance that people should engage in sports throughout their lives,' she added.
To make Punjab a vibrant leading edge state in the sports arena, Dr Upinderjit Kaur advised to exploit talent at the grass root level,
synergies the activities of Sports and Education Department and nurture the probable sportspersons to achieve excellence at National and International level in the sports.
She informed that diet money of the school athletes has also been enhanced for camps and competitions. Besides this, summer coaching camps would also be made a regular feature during the vocations. To
promote and popularise traditional sports especially gatka, a martial art sport, she directed all the educational institutes to organize competitions at different levels.
Among others Mr C. Roul Principal Secretary School Education, Mr Krishan Kumar DGSE, Mr Devinder Singh DPI (SE), Mrs Amarjit Kaur Deputy Director (School Sports), Dr Kanwaljit Singh Director Sports
GNDU Amritsar, Dr Charnjit Singh Grewal Director Sports Panjab University Chandigarh and Dr Bhupinder Singh Joint Director Sports Punjabi University Patiala were also present in the meeting.