Designed to develop motor skills in students: Physical edu makes debut in NCERT class VIII textbooks
New Delhi: In a move to prioritise fitness and overall well-being, the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has introduced a new subject—Physical Education and Well Being—for Class VIII students this academic year. This addition comes as part of the NCERT's ongoing syllabus upgrades in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Dinesh Prasad Saklani, NCERT Director, states in the foreword to ‘Khel Yatra’ that it is “meticulously designed to develop motor skills in students and engage children in the team sports of Athletics, Table Tennis and Volleyball,” as reported by The New Indian Express on Tuesday.
The subject is divided into six chapters. Each chapter specifies the warm-up to be done, the activity and the cool-down steps.
The first chapter introduces physical games such as the Horse Vault Race, where students partner up and vault over each other, the Mass Drill which involves synchronised movements, and the Conduction Relay, a creative relay race designed to teach the concept of heat transfer. These activities aim to cultivate both physical strength and teamwork.
In addition to promoting fun, the curriculum also raises awareness on important social issues. For example, the lesson Baraf Pani educates students about the harmful effects of bullying and encourages both victims and bystanders to take action in reducing its impact.
As the curriculum progresses, it delves deeper into more structured sports activities. The Athletics chapter focuses on the technique of sprinting, teaching students the importance of posture, drive, and acceleration. Chapter 4 provides a detailed exploration of Table Tennis, covering aspects like grip, footwork, and forehand and backhand pushes. In Chapter 5, students learn about the essential skills in Volleyball, including passing, serving, spiking, blocking, and digging, with colorful and detailed illustrations for better understanding, the report added.
“Yoga can support us, particularly as we navigate changes and learn to manage our emotions,” states Chapter 6. Students will learn various postures, such as Sukshma Vyayama, Surya Namaskara, asanas (yoga postures), Pranayama (breathing exercises), Pratyahara (sensory control), and Dhyana (meditation).
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'Someone must be held accountable': HC converts civil suit on Goa nightclub tragedy into PIL
Panaji (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Monday converted a civil suit against Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub into a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) saying "someone has to be held accountable" for the tragedy in which 25 people were killed.In a stern observation, Goa bench of the High Court of Justices Sarang Kotwal and Ashish Chavan said the local panchayat had "failed to take suo motu cognisance" of the club and had taken "no action despite complaints."
The division bench directed the Goa government to file a detailed reply on the permissions granted to the nightclub.
The High Court, while fixing January 8 as the next date of hearing, pointed out that commercial operations were continuing in the structure despite it having been served a demolition order.
The original petition was filed after the December 6 tragedy by Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar and Sunil Divkar, the owners of the land on which the nightclub was operating.
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Advocate Rohit Bras de Sa, the lawyer representing the petitioner, was made amicus curiae in the matter and has been asked to file a detailed affidavit in the matter.
In their petition, Amonkar and Divkar highlighted "the alarming pattern of statutory violations that have remained inadequately addressed despite multiple complaints, inspections, show-cause notices, and even a demolition order".
They contended that these violations posed "immediate threats to public safety, ecological integrity, and the rule of law in the state of Goa."
Investigations by multiple agencies into the nightclub fire have revealed various irregularities, including lack of permissions to operate the nightclub.
The Goa police arrested five managers and staff members of the club, while co-owners Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra have been detained in Thailand after they fled the country.
