NT NETWORK
PANAJI
The students from 100 government primary schools around the state selected by the department of education will start learning Yoga subject in their classes, after Diwali vacation, later this year.
Coming out with this information, director of education G P Bhat told this newspaper on Friday that the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has already trained 34 primary teachers from the government primary schools as regards conducting classes in the Yoga subject, for classes from I to IV. “In fact, a Yoga Cell, a Sanskrit Cell and a Value-education Cell have been constituted under the SCERT,” he added, stating that the Yoga Cell would oversee all activities pertaining to Yoga education in schools.
Speaking further, Bhat said that the Goa Education Development Corporation (GEDC) has signed an agreement with Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Yog Peeth for supply of Yoga-related text books for classes from I to IV to the selected 100 government primary schools. “The GEDC has also taken help of yoga teachers – the master resource persons – to train 34 primary teachers in conducting Yoga classes,” he maintained, pointing out that more such primary teachers could be trained during next academic year, when the number of schools teaching Yoga subject may also be increased, depending on the response from the 100 government schools.
Yoga will be taught under the Yoga Training Scheme as implemented by the GEDC, for a period of six years commencing from the current academic year.
The director of education also stated that the Yoga subject would help students in developing healthy approach towards education and life, right from a young age by means of the most powerful yogic practises. “Yoga at primary level will definitely help develop an effective system to create healthy citizens for the nation,” he observed.
‘Khelta Khelta Yoga’, a yoga training book based on the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) syllabus and prepared by Patanjali Yog Peeth will be taught for classes from I to IV.
It is envisaged that the problems, which school children face, such as stress, depression, lack of concentration, exam phobia, behavioural problems, relationship issues and drug addiction could be controlled through the Yoga subject.