Rs 15.68 crore released for sports, physical education in govt schools

Srinagar, Jan 25: In a significant development, the government has released funds worth Rs 15.68 crores for sports and physical education to give a boost to the government schools in terms of physical wellness of the students.

An official said that funds worth Rs 15.68 crores have been released through a centrally sponsored scheme- Samagra Shiksha under Sports and Physical Education intervention.

The official said the government is making efforts to promote sports activities in schools besides providing quality education to the children.

“Ahead of the reopening of the schools post winter vacations, the schools will get funds for procurement of sports equipment for the children,” the official said.

As per the official document, each primary school will get an amount of Rs 5000 for the procurement of sports equipment, while the middle schools are entitled to an amount of Rs 10000, and high schools will get Rs 15000 for the procurement of the sports equipment.

As per the documents, the higher secondary schools will get Rs 25000 for the procurement of the sports equipment.

“Every school will receive sports equipment under Samagra Shiksha to inculcate and emphasise the relevance of sports in the school curriculum,” the official document reads.

While the department is focusing on providing schools with sports equipment, the teachers said that most of the schools, particularly at the elementary level, do not have proper playgrounds available for the students.

“Schools will purchase the sports equipment, but it will be only to show the expenditure and utilisation of  funds because there is no space available to utilise the equipment,” a group of teachers told Greater Kashmir.

Besides elementary-level schools in rural areas, there are a number of high schools in towns and cities which do not have a playground available for the students.

A few years ago, a video went viral on social media wherein the then Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) was seen playing cricket with school kids on a concrete path. The school was located in a congested area of old Srinagar, with no playground available for the students.