Tamil Nadu Schools urge govt to allow outdoor sports

Amid the dipping cases of Covid-19, several school teachers and educationists in Tamil Nadu have urged the school education department to allow physical activities and sports in schools.

The school education department in Tamil Nadu had allowed schools to resume physical classes from February 1 but is yet to permit outdoor activities, sports and morning assemblies. Now, several school teachers and educationists are urging the department to allow outdoor sports in schools.

The majority of schools are yet to allow outdoor sports activities due to the absence of government guidelines. All students have two periods in a week for physical education and only a few schools are allowing limited physical activities like aerobics.

Physical activities must start without further delay: Teachers

P Perumalsamy, state president of the Tamil Nadu Post Graduate Teachers Association has said that sports activities are important for the mental well-being of students, as reported by TOI.

"If restricted only to classrooms, students will develop an aversion to studies. Sports and physical activities are stressbusters for students," he said.

Aruna Rathnam, a former education specialist with Unicef, said, “These activities will bring back the bonding, joy of coming back to schools and seeing other children and teachers. Physical activities should be allowed without any further delay.” 

GJ Manohar, principal of MCC Higher Secondary School in Chetpet, said sports activities will help channelise students’ energy in the right direction. “Sports periods give students a better opportunity to develop their talent. They also get a sense of community when they play together,” he said.

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