Students to get textbooks for physical education

Time of India

03-08-2025

Chennai: From warm-ups to winning medals, Physical Education (PE) in Tamil Nadu schools is getting a major upgrade. For the first time, students of Classes 6 to 10 in govt and aided schools will now have exclusive guide books for PE - making the subject as structured and serious as maths or science.
Released by the school education department, the new physical education guidebooks feature colourful and clear, step-by-step illustrations to help students easily understand exercises, games, and safety techniques. From yoga postures and warm-ups to Tamil heritage games and first aid, each activity is visually explained to support correct form and better engagement. Additionally, it encourages collaboration with special educators to teach children with special needs.
According to officials from department, the larger goal is to help students from all walks of life excel in state, national, and international sports competitions, win medals and enhance mental well being. This structured guidebook brings clarity and consistency to how the subject is taught. "For students, it helps develop fitness, coordination, and lifelong healthy habits through age-appropriate, engaging activities.
For teachers, it clearly lays down ready-to-use lesson plans, assessment tools, and activity ideas that make planning easier and ensure consistent quality across classes," T Chandramohan, school education secretary, said.
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He further said the sessions outlined in the book also teach important life skills such as teamwork, discipline, and leadership. "Ultimately, they make PE a more meaningful and structured part of every student's school experience," he added.
The demand for dedicated textbooks has been longstanding. "As of today, written PE exams are held for students of Classes 6-9 where questions such as the size of a football ground are asked. We have been demanding the department for a dedicated syllabus for PE and textbooks. I am glad this has been fulfilled," said Mohan, PE teacher, Govt Higher Secondary School, Kovalam.
However, a few associations representing PE teachers argue that the govt must focus on improving the sports infrastructure in the state and filling vacancies before introducing dedicated textbooks.
"Ideally, a school is supposed to have two PE teachers — one for students of Classes I-VIII and another for IX-XII. However, in most schools, not even one teacher is posted. Moreover, infrastructure for certain sports, such as pole vaulting, is poor. The govt should focus on building infrastructure to attract students to various types of sports as opposed to conventional ones," said S Pushparajan, deputy coordinator, Tamil Nadu physical education teachers association.
"There are at least 3,000 vacant PE teacher posts across the state. Not just that, if the higher secondary student strength is over 400, a post of a physical director has to be created. However, the govt has not done this in a majority of schools citing fund shortage. When you don't have PE teachers in schools, what good would a textbook do?" asked S Arockiaraj, TN PE Teachers Physical Education Instructors Association's Chennai secretary.
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