Fitness test to be must for admission in schools

Students seeking admission in schools will have to undergo a mandatory fitness test once the New Education Policy (NEP) becomes a reality by December. 

The HRD Ministry, which is holding marathon meetings to finalise the NEP draft, has decided to include some fitness tests that every student will have to clear at the time of admission.

The decision was taken after the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports raised its concern over the depleting health conditions of schoolchildren during a meeting held recently, which was chaired by HRD Minister Smriti Irani.

Khel Ratna awardee and MoS Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore was also present in the meeting. The HRD Minister agreed to include suggestions to make students healthy and fit. 

“In the last 60 years, no government has ever bothered about this. If there is a qualification criteria to apply for admission in any discipline, then why can’t there be health fitness test for students? When a student’s body will be unfit, how will he be able to perform well in studies?” said a member.

“The HRD Ministry will include fitness activities such as frog jump, race, etc, for children to test their strength at the time of admission. Also, the NEP will envisage physical activities class for students of every age group as fitness will play a key role in the ranking of schools,” the official said.

“It is common that children complain of health ailments such as  sneezing, cold, drowsyness, which means they lack physical strength. Fitness activities will help overcome theses problems,” he said.

A study conducted by EduSports, a Bengaluru-based organisation that works to implement programmes on physical education and sports in schools, states that fitness levels are declining  among students. The study covered over 1,00,000 children in the age group of 7-17 years in 287 schools across 85 cities spread over 23 states. Students of all age groups showed poor fitness levels. The study involved the assessment of key fitness parameters such as anaerobic exercise capacity, flexibility, lower and upper body strength and body mass index (BMI).

According to the findings of the study, a little over 40 per cent lacked a healthy BMI and endurance. 

Experts believe  that the key reason for this is the lack of physical activity and outdoor games. It was found that 65 per cent girls had healthy BMI scores, compared with 59 per cent boys. But girls scored lower than boys in other fitness parameters.

The new education policy will focus on equipping students with skills and knowledge needed to make India a knowledge superpower.