CBSE to make Physical Education mandatory from 2018-19

NEW DELHI, MARCH 23: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has asked schools to keep one period reserve for the Health and Physical Education as the Board plans to make the subject mandatory in its affiliated schools. The programme would be compulsory from 9th to 12th standard. "CBSE has decided to mainstream Health and Physical Education for classes IX to XII with the aim of holistic development of the child, leading to a well-balanced individual in all walks of life," the Board stated in a circular.  

The Health and Physical Education programme would be streamlined in schools from the 2018-19 academic session. According to the Board, it will design a curriculum for the programme that would be imbued with Life Skills.

The Board has further directed schools to reserve one period every day for the Health and Physical Education programme, while preparing time-tables for the 2018-19 session. However, the guidelines pertaining to the methodology and the transactional strategies are yet to be communicated by the CBSE.

Around 20,000 schools are affiliated to CBSE. Of these, 25 are based in foreign countries, mostly in West Asia.