Access to playfields mandatory for schools: Govt

Access to play fields and engagement of physical education instructor has been made a mandatory requirement for all schools under the Right to Education Act. This was stated by Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel in Lok Sabha yesterday.

He said government recognises the role of sports and physical education in the holistic development of children and youth in the country. He said, CBSE places special importance on co-scholastic areas which includes sports and physical fitness and it is expected that the state education boards would also emulate the CBSE example in due course.

style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">Mr. Goel said a scheme called 'Khelo India - National Programme for Development of Sports' is being implemented by the Sports Ministry as a central sector scheme from the current financial.

The scheme provides for holding of annual sports competitions in two age groups that is under 14 and under 17 all over the country. This is to encourage mass participation of both boys and girls in sports in both urban and rural areas and identification of talented sportspersons, he said.