Omkar Dattatray
The importance and value of sports and games that is in fact physical education in the education system has long been recognized and today’s education is unthinkable without games and sports being a part and parcel of modern education. In present day education much emphasis is given to the physical education and the belief has come to influence the educationists, policy planners and the regulating authority the government that no worthwhile education for the young generation is possible without physical education. Sports and games is the integral part of inclusive education and thus sports and games need to be given required priority and place in modern education so that it leads to the growth of healthy individual personalities which can fit in the democracy of the country and contribute to its development. Thus physical education should be made inalienable and inseparable part of education and it needs to be made a part of school syllabus and curriculum. Adequate emphasis needs to be given to the sports and games in the education system of the country. All students, regardless of ability, should get the recommended 60 minutes or more of daily physical activity to grow into physically fit personalities. Schools can help all students to meet this recommendation by providing equal opportunities for students with disabilities as well .Creating an inclusive culture for physical education and physical activity helps every student learn to lead a healthy, active and purposeful life style. The inclusion in education means that ,”All children regardless of ability or disability ,have the right to be respected and appreciated as the valuable members of school community, fully participate in all school activities and interact with peers of all ability levels with opportunities to develop friendship. ”Inclusive physical education and physical activity includes – 1-Includes students with disabilities in regular physical education classes. Specifically, teaching strategies, equipment, environments and assessments have been adopted to meet the needs of all students.2-Supports the students with disabilities who want to participate in other physical activities before, during and after school. 3-Encourage the students with disabilities to have same roles and experiences as their peers who do not have a disability during physical education and other physical activities. ”Education is the manifestation of the perfection already existing in man.” said Swami Vivekananda. The primary objective of education is overall personality development. Complimenting to this objective, the paradigms of Physical Education ,sports and Yoga are integrated under the National Education Policy -NEP 2020.Physical Education, Sports and Yoga professionals will contribute in bringing Health and wellness at every aspect of one’s personality. Thus developing and proposing the syllabus framework for physical education, sports and yoga was an interesting assignment for the committee. We had to keep in mind the broad guidelines given by UGC about making the citizens of 21st century equipped with critical thinking, problem solving ,Analytical Reasoning ,Cognitive skills and self -directed learning etc. The committee had several meetings to develop the curriculum framework and we have come out with a broad outline for the colleges and universities to take up the framework for physical education, sports and yoga .The broad framework is to make physical education, sports and yoga accessible and available to masses by creation of professions in physical education, sports and yoga through Higher Education Institutions. This will help every citizen of India to be healthy, fit and stay well. India is growing rapidly as a global super power .To face the challenges of the century and to keep up with the pace of the world, maintaining health is of paramount importance. Giving thrust to healthy society, physical education, sports and yoga are of great significance in today’s world .The GOI insists on physical fitness, mental health, and overall development of personality of for every citizen. Thus government has launched Fit India Movement, Khelo India, TOPS and National Sports Day, International Day of Yoga etc. These initiatives have given impetus and awareness among public, professionals, and academicians. However, creating efficient and skilled human resource in the field of physical education, sports and yoga is identified as the need of hour. Thus the GOI and the government of Karnataka have included physical education, sports and yoga a key area under NEP 2020.Thus NEP 2020 accords top most importance to physical education, sports and yoga and for implementing the mandate of NEP 2020, GOI and government of Karnataka has started to implement it into educational curriculum. In keeping with the spirit of federalism and unitary nature of the country, other states of the country and UT’s should emulate the implementing example of GOI and government of Karnataka and earnestly, honestly and seriously take needed steps to include the physical education, sports and yoga in the curriculum framework in all educational institutions so that physically fit ,well meaning personalities will be developed to fit in the 21st century world and face the challenges of the today’s world of competition. The educational institutions should take the initiative and perform their role in implementing the NEP 2020 in Toto so that India is in a position to cultivate all round developed ,physically fit and required human personalities to man the requirements of the 21st century India. For this national task our educational institutions should perform lead role through strict implementation of the NEP 2020 through adoption of national framework of school curriculum more specifically as it relates to inclusion of physical education, sports and yoga classes in the educational institutions throughout the country so that India can reach new and required highest of human, social and economic development to remain relevant in the 21st century world and lead the world in the modern time. In brief it can be said that inclusive physical education and the due as well as needed emphasis is given by NEP 2020 in regard to physical education, sports and yoga in order to transform India into a healthy fit and mentally sound and capable personalities who can perform their roles so that the objective of developed India will become a reality but for this all of us and the educational institutions should work hard and with determination.
(The author is a columnist,social and KP activist).
