Importance of physical training stressed

Visakhapatnam: National Association of Physical Education and Sports Sciences has stressed the need for introducing physical training in elementary and upper primary schools. Presently, the physical education teachers (PETs) are take classes only at high school level in the state.

Speaking at a two-day seminar here on Monday, association president Dr P Chinnappa Reddy said the schools in European and American countries have the physical education from elementary level. This is the main reason for their victory in various global sporting events, he said and added the champions of these countries have already achieved a few medals by the time an Indian student starts learning a game.

Reddy said that the Indian government should also take steps to include physical education in the curriculum. NCERT has made physical education a compulsory subject for students from first standard in all schools across the country, he said. However, he said it was not implemented properly in many states including AP.  

Visakhapatnam District PETs’ Association secretary N Lalith Kumar said there has been a severe shortage of PETs in the schools across the state. There is only one PET at Zilla Parishad High School in Chandrampalem village of Madhurawada mandal that has more than 3,500 students, he pointed out.

“There are many such government schools having 2,000-3,000 students but running with a single PET. As per the government norms, there must be a PET for every 250 students. One teacher cannot handle those many students and classes,” Kumar said. He added, “Even the posts of physical directors (PDs) have been lying vacant for several years at all government junior colleges.

The government should immediately recruit the vacant posts of PETs and PDs in the state.” District PETs’ Association and District Olympic Association conducted a two-day seminar here on Monday.