DU teachers demand better infra for sports, physical education

NEW DELHI: Delhi University teachers said the university lacks infrastructure for physical education and demanded that steps should be taken to encourage sports

NEW DELHI: Delhi University teachers said the university lacks infrastructure for physical education and demanded that steps should be taken to encourage sports among students.

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“The spectacular performance of a few at Olympics can be credited to individual initiative rather than system and societal support. To cater to 1.8 lakh students, DU has less than 100 qualified physical education teachers in over 75 colleges,” said Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) president, Nandita Narain.

She said a concerted effort is required for physical education and sports, not only to win medals, but also to promote integrated development.

“The university does not consider physical education as an academic subject during admissions and this proves that there is no seamless integration between schools and colleges,” she alleged.

DUTA demanded that the university chalk out a sports policy so the students can be provided infrastructure to pursue a career in sports.

The principal of the west Delhi college, Purbi Saikia, put up a notice on August 17 saying students who opted for the physical education course should choose some other subject.

Physical education is an elective course taken by third-year undergraduate students enrolled in the BA programme and is taught over two semesters.

This course was closed when FYUP was introduced. Now, we have Choice Based Credit System and so cannot continue, said Saikia.