Blue print ready for National Sports Education Board in schools

The committee appointed by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports which is led by the chairman of National Testing Agency, Vineet Joshi, is ready with the blue print of National Sports Education Board (NSEB) which will offer sports related subjects besides regular curriculum in schools, reported The Times of India.

The NSEB will offer students in class X and XII to clear their board examinations with two sports related subjects along with some other conventional subjects which are offered presently. The core curriculum based on the new National Curriculum Framework will also give students options like deferred exams and flexibility which are currently only offered to established players.

The NSEB will follow the traditional school curriculum offering the same subjects, but the students will be given the option of selecting one or two sports related subjects according to their choice. This means that students can opt for subjects like English, Political Science along with two sports related subjects like Football or Sports Management.

The NSEB was proposed under the ‘Khelo India Scheme’ launched in 2017 to provide a strong and connected school and college sports education system that is inclusive, collaborative, dynamic and sustainable while focusing on ethics and overall development and well-being to excel in sports and life.

“The flexibility offered to sportspersons at present by various Boards are at an exception and given only to achievers. NSEB envisions that anyone who wants to pursue a career in sports or related fields will get all the flexibility. There will be provisions for deferred exams to suit the sporting calendar. Sometimes a sportsperson might not be able to take exam due to injury. Such students need not be detained and will be allowed to give exams at a later period. Due to tournaments and training, sportspersons might not be able to attend regular classes, for which there will be provision of online teaching,” a panel member told TOI.

The committee has come up with the blue print drawing experience from countries like Germany, Russia. It had also conducted a survey with 1900 respondents which brought to light that only 5-10% of sportspersons in the country have access to P.E. teachers, coaches and other facilities at the school level.

The draft focuses on the fact that there is great imbalance between academics and sports in the country which has caused a hindrance for India to develop in the field of sports. The draft also gives schools the option to exclusively affiliate itself to the NSEB or affiliate itself to NSEB in addition to the already existing education boards.

The committee also had representation from Sports Authority of India, Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education, Central Board of Secondary Education, Indian Institute of Sports Management etc.