Students of primary schools to begin their day with yoga
Over 1.14 crore students enrolled in nearly 1.5 lakh government-run primary and upper primary schools in Uttar Pradesh will now begin their day with yoga sessions and display of talent in various spheres.
Earlier this month, the Yogi Adityanath-led government had issued an order to include yoga as part of the curriculum in government schools across the state from the new academic session.
The Basic Education Board has come up with an ‘ideal timetable’ for schools for what they say is for the all-round development of students by striking a balance between studies and co-curricular activities.
“This is for the first time that an ideal timetable has been issued for schools. It has been designed so that tough subjects are taught in the first half when the children are fresh. Equal importance has been given to co-curricular activities and physical fitness,” Skand Shukla, deputy secretary of the board, said.
According to the timetable, the morning assembly for the students of primary classes will end with the national anthem followed by a yoga session and ‘Dainik Bal Sabha’ where children will recite poems, present songs and thought of the day.
The students of Classes 1 to 5 would end their day with a session of sports and exercise to stay physically fit and the children of Classes 6 to 8 will have art, home science and music as the last or second last period of the day.
The board has asked officials to carry out inspections to check whether the schools are following the prescribed time table.
Plans to introduce yoga in schools earlier had faced opposition by some Muslim organisations who said it is essentially a Hindu religious practise and that chanting “Om” or performing Surya Namaskar is against Islam. Deputy CM Dinesh Sha rma, who is also minister for secondary education, had warded off criticisms, saying yoga should not be branded as communal and added that “it is a way of life”.