Hyderabad: Over 7.28 lakh students have opted for Physical Education in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in the country. The subject seems to have found a lot of takers in schools today and is becoming increasingly popular among schoolchildren across the country.
CBSE schools now offer 55 skill-based subjects for their students to choose from and the board conducts timely reviews of the preference of the students. 40 skill-based subjects were offered in 2013-14 and 15 more courses were added to the list later on.
Physical Education, which was introduced in 2017, has found a lot of takers in the higher classes. In class 12th, it comes as a breather for students as it is based more on activity and less on rote learning. The marks scored in this subject are then added to the scores of the five main subjects in the schools.
CBSE schools in the state have chosen two to three subjects each and have trained their teachers accordingly. There are 200 CBSE schools in Telangana state of which about 100 schools are offering the various courses and so far, about 20,000 students in the state have opted for physical education.
The major challenge is to find trained teachers who will ensure that these courses are delivered effectively once they are enrolled in the programmes. While the board offers teacher training programmes, the major challenge faced by the board is retention.
A senior mentor with CBSE schools in the city on condition of anonymity explained, “Parents must favour the overall development of their children. Most parents have a rigid agenda that their child needs to focus on academics and crack entrance exams. This is why schools are not willing to opt for these courses. However, there are schools which are now stressing on the overall development of students and those institutions are where such courses are being offered.”
Other courses where schools are experiencing a dip in demand include Carnatic music, Human Rights, Mohiniyattam dance, Health Care Management, Theatre Studies, and Library Information Service.
Schools have found a high demand for information technology, beauty and wellness, basic agriculture and food production.
The board is of the view that even if as few as five students are willing to opt for any skill-based subject, then they can continue with the courses as it is the quality of education which matters and not the quantity.
