Primary schools ordered to ensure playgrounds, sports mandatory from Class IV
The directives were issued through an office order yesterday.
The Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) has issued a set of directives, including ensuring playground availability, to make sports compulsory in the national curriculum from Class IV in government primary schools across the country.
The directives were issued through an office order from Section-2 of the directorate yesterday (June 28).
According to the order, necessary preparations must be taken at the district and upazila levels in light of the decision made at a meeting of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education on 16 March.
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Schools that already have playgrounds must identify their requirements and take initiatives to receive allocations from the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief to make them suitable for sports.
It noted that nearly 11,000 government primary schools do not have any playground. Authorities have been instructed to visit these schools and submit detailed reports to the DPE.
For future proposals to establish new government primary schools, it must be ensured that adequate playground facilities are available.
For schools without their own grounds, steps must be taken to reach agreements or contracts with nearby private institutions or individuals to use their grounds at specific times.
Authorities have also been instructed to arrange sports activities in collaboration with local administration and concerned parties using grounds of temples, mosques, vacant spaces, fallow land or other government agencies.
Where grounds cannot be arranged, indoor game equipment such as chess and carrom must be provided.
Additionally, regular annual sports competitions must be organised in every government primary school, and the school grounds must remain open for children's sports after daily classes and on weekends.
Education officials at the district and upazila levels have been asked to implement the directives and submit progress reports to the DPE promptly.
Those concerned believe that making sports compulsory in the national curriculum will enhance students' physical fitness, mental development, leadership qualities and teamwork skills, while strengthening sports culture in schools.
