Physical education curriculum needs to be modernized

Updated on: Monday, December 26, 2011

Just last week Anil Karwande completed three decades in the field of physical education. The principal of Ishwar Deshmukh College of Physical Education sees bigger challenges ahead. Eastern Vidarbha is known as the hub of physical education in the country with a majority of colleges concentrated near Nagpur itself. Karwande talks to TOI on the current physical education system and the need for change if any.

Excerpts from an interview

Q. What is the biggest challenge facing physical education?

A. It has to be the curriculum without any doubt. It is outdated and major parts of it have become irrelevant. The last time Nagpur University updated the syllabus was I think in 1996, so you can very well understand where things stand. This is pretty much the case everywhere in the state with the exception being Pune University.

Q. Have you suggested to the university ever that the curriculum should be updated?

A. No I cannot do that. The job of giving suggestions and then upgrading the curriculum is of the Board of Studies at NU. They have promised to act fast and bring about the changes that are required. Around 2002, I was given the task by the then Dean to prepare a report on the curriculum, which I submitted to the NU. I have not heard anything from them since.

Q. Any one example of something which has become irrelevant?

A. There are certainly quite a few but let us take the example of dumbbells. This exercise is taught as part of physical education but who uses this in schools? We are producing future teachers through and they will go on to teach physical education in schools, junior colleges or professional colleges. Today private schools in the city, mostly the CBSE pattern ones, demand interesting exercises like aerobics etc. The demands of our society are changing and we must keep pace or be left out.

Q. Does it mean we are producing teachers who are not good enough?

A. I would say that we are not producing as per the demands of our society. By society I mean schools, colleges and other institutes. I will also blame the system for not having a professional course pattern of 4+2 years to complete a master's degree. We have a three years B.PE course after which students get admission in M.PeD. Alternatively, students who have completed their graduation in any stream can complete a one year B. PEd course and take admission to the masters' course. How can a student learn in one year something which others have done in three? It is unjustified and hence we should make the B.PE course a four-year degree to impart proper training.

Q. Are students made aware of doping in sports?

A. In the undergraduate course there is nothing. In the masters' course they are taught briefly on sports medicine. Many times the athletes or the coaches are themselves pushing for greater glory and indulge in taking medicines which enhance performance, but will certainly harm their future prospects. But then medicine is a different field altogether which comes under the Medical Council of India. At our level we must initiate more awareness about rehabilitation of sports injuries and teach students how to cope without taking steroids.

Q. It all comes down to having a new curriculum for which we are playing a wait and watch game.

A. In the meantime, yes, but not for long. As I have decided to organize a workshop for the development of a new curriculum. We will invite school and college principals and ask them what they require from us and then work backwards. Experts from the field will then brainstorm over each subject plus overall curriculum. We will then submit a report to the NU and if they want we can help them design a new curriculum altogether.

Times of India

Physical education curriculum needs to be modernized

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