Physical literacy to be part of school curriculum

The Andhra Pradesh government is all set to introduce physical literacy in school curriculum in the coming academic year. The new component will become part of the syllabus in both government-run schools and private institutions.

Realising that if children are to be active for life, they need to develop physical literacy at a young age, the State, through School Education Departments across 13 districts, plans to integrate sports, education, health and recreation through formalised research-driven knowledge. This means that along with competing in other subjects, students will now be expected to be equipped with sound physical literacy as well.

The components of physical literacy to be added in the academic curriculum have already been designed. Every school will have a separate teacher to teach physical literacy and in schools that do not have the facility, the subject would be dealt by one of the other teachers.

In the first phase, nearly 600 physical education teachers from across the State will be given a week-long training on the campus of Acharya Nagarjuna University. The training programme will begin on May 3 and conclude on May 10.

To translate the mega physical education plan into reality, the government has collaborated with Gopichand Academy, Canada-based Sports for Life and International Physical Literacy Association (IPLA) which describes physical literacy as the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life.

Minister for Human Resource Development Ganta Srinivas Rao will inaugurate the training programme in Guntur.

“Introduction of this course in the school curriculum is aimed at helping children develop into all-round personalities,” said Commissioner, School Education, K. Sandhya Rani.

Other issues like the modalities of the new subject, whether it should carry marks in the annual exams or not will be discussed by a Cabinet sub-committee scheduled to meet in Vijayawada on Monday.