Yoga becomes part of school curriculum in Uttar Pradesh

The state government on Friday directed that yoga be made a part of school curriculum across the state. The subject will be taught to students of classes 5 to 12 from the new academic session.

Deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma, who is also minister for secondary education, had at the inauguration of Yoga Mahotsav in Lucknow on March 29 announced that he would include yoga in school physical education curriculum. He kept his promise by issuing a directive for the same.

Talking to Hindustan Times on Friday, Sharma said, “I issued the directive to include yoga under physical education curriculum in all schools, from the new session, three days ago, but the order has been formally issued by the principal secretary today (Friday).

However, no one will be forced to do any asanas (postures) like Surya Namaskar. Anyone who wants to join yoga will be welcomed. Yoga will be part of physical education from now onwards.”

Asked about the opposition to yoga in some quarters, Sharma said, “Don’t brand yoga as communal. Everyone knows it is a way of life. It will benefit the students in handling day-to-day stress, besides making them physically strong. Even the Islamic countries celebrate World Yoga Day on June 21. We are trying to improve the quality of education and this is a step in that direction.”

Sharma, who had also promised to upgrade the Sanskrit Board, said, “Sanskrit Board will be reconstituted soon.”

He said the process to form a panel for Board of Sanskrit Secondary Education was on. This board will affiliate, conduct exams and make available grant-in-aid to the schools following its curriculum. “It will be the first-of-its-kind in the country,” he said.

“The state already has a Sanskrit Board but it is more or less defunct. Only a handful of officials are running it, but now I will appoint some noted Sanskrit scholars, intellectuals, professors and writers to upgrade it,” Sharma said.

Patanjali Vidyapeeth had organised the Yoga Mahotsav and Baba Ramdev wanted inclusion of yoga in school curriculum and upgradation of Sanskrit Board. Sharma had accepted both these demands, in principle, that day.