Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: The state government has mandated sports activities and physical education in government schools across the state, informed school and mass education minister Debi Prasad Mishra to the Assembly Thursday.
Mishra, while replying to athe question of member Dibya Shankar Mishra said, “Mass drill, yoga for physical fitness and physical education have been added to the syllabus of students.”
He said physical education teachers are engaged against sanctioned posts in high schools and part-time instructors under SSA in Upper Primary schools.
He said regular sports activities are being organised under the aegis of Orissa State School Sports Association in 23 disciplines in the categories of under-14, under-17 and under-19 thoughout the state including tribal districts.
The minister said that the Centre, through Rashtriya Madhyamik Sikshya Abhiyan, has also released `92 crore this year to promote physical education and sports activities at schools in the state.
Meanwhile, replying to queries of BJP MLA Basanta Panda and Congress MLA Subal Sahu during Question Hour, the minister informed the house that model schools will be set up in every block across the state and local students will get priority during admissions. He said the state government has decided to set up model schools in all 314 blocks. The schools will have hostel facilities and students from Class I to Class XII will be admitted in these schools. Mishra said apart from the usual courses, students will be imparted vocational training for better employability.