Supreme Court directs states to respond to questionnaire on inclusion of sports in curriculum

The Supreme Court has directed all states on January 14, to respond to a questionnaire on whether to include sports in the curriculum from elementary to higher education. The questionnaire has been made by a senior advocate, Gopal Sankaranarayanan. 

The Supreme Court has directed all states on January 14 to respond to a questionnaire on whether to include sports in the curriculum from elementary to higher education. The questionnaire has been made by a senior advocate who is assisting this matter as an amicus curiae. A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said this after senior lawyer Gopal Sankaranarayanan expressed that so far, he has received replies from eight states but the responses are not cohesive but vague.

The lawyer also told the bench that he has prepared the questionnaire to collect better responses related to specific issues. The bench has allowed the senior lawyer to circulate the questionnaire among all the states and has directed them to respond within three weeks.

The questionnaire comprises various questions concerning the state governments and the state boards of education, details of various policies, steps taken to develop sports education and whether specific funding is being provided for sporting infrastructure in schools by the state and union territories. The state is also supposed to answer to whether they have taken an initiative to promote sports education for differently-abled and if they have any programme to promote the national sport, hockey, in school.

Following is the list of a few questions that are there in the questionnaire prepared by Gopal Sankaranarayanan:

• Does the state board of education mandate for sports to be included in every class timetable?
• How many hours a week are earmarked for sports?
• How many are the total hours of classes in the week?
• What is the minimum qualification to be a sports instructor/ teacher in schools?
• State boards' view on the inclusion of sports as a compulsory subject, including its evaluation at the 10th and 12th/pre-university levels.

The court had asked for responses of the Centre, and all state and union territories on the plea that said that education and sports are inseparable. Sports when coupled with education surely develop better qualities among children.  

As per the plea, children will be able to cope up with life pressure and challenges in the modern world and it will also boost their confidence and patience level through the activities and competition involved in sports. The plea also sought directions to the Centre to take steps to include sports among the fundamental rights and form an independent ‘Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth Empowerment’ at both Union and State levels. It says that directions should be issued to the Centre and State Government to prepare suitable amendments to their academic and sports education policies to promote sports at all education levels.

Read More:

• Interactive sessions with eminent personalities have built my confidence in pursuing a career in sports

• Delhi Sports University Bill 2019 passed by Delhi Assembly