Kumaraswamy Government Introduces Yoga And Aerobics For School Children, Teachers Complain About Staff Shortage

Aimed at increasing the fitness of school children, Department of Primary and Secondary Education of Karnataka has decided to introduce yoga and aerobics during the morning assembly.

As reported by the New Indian Express, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education N Mahesh confirmed the introduction and said that the process to hire teachers to teach yoga and aerobics in schools shall commence soon. “To involve kids in activities like sports and culture and to keep them fit, we have decided to introduce yoga and aerobics every day,” he was quoted as saying.

He added that it was the idea of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and that dance classes that include all forms of classical dance would also be taught in government schools. But this has not gone down well with physical education teachers in the state who have objected to the introduction of new courses citing shortage of instructors.

“There should be at least one instructor for every 60 students, but currently the ratio is one for 200 and even in place of physical education teacher, government is recruiting general teachers,” complained President of Karnataka Physical Education Teachers Association Basavaraju.

He also questioned the introduction of new courses when the department had not filled posts of physical education for the last 15 years.