Yoga a compulsory subject in government run schools, teacher training courses

NEW DELHI: The HRD Ministry launched the national syllabus and course material for teaching yoga to students of classes VI to X in all centre-run schools during a conference for yoga teachers on Monday.

While it’s not clear at this moment if yoga will be a compulsory subject in Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas, HRD Smriti Irani announced that its learning will be assessed through 80% weightage to practical tests and 20% to theory examination.

"I want an assurance from students that they will perform the practicals with full devotion," Irani said at a function held a day after the International Yoga Day celebration which saw participation of hundreds of school students and teachers.

The government also hasn’t decided whether the private schools affiliated to CBSE will also have to adopt yoga as a compulsory subject. Sources said CBSE is yet to devise a policy with that regard.

As for the government schools run by the state governments, Irani said this decision is the states’ prerogative. The HRD Ministry also announced that it will organise a national-level yoga competition from next year and that yoga is not a compulsory component of the training module for aspiring teachers.