Yoga Teaching Would Not Be Compulsory At Schools: Shripad Naik

AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik made it clear in Rajya Sabha that the government has no plans to make teaching of yoga compulsory at educational institutes around the country. For Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) affiliated schools, yoga is itself a subject along with physical and health education and thus that would continue.

Shripad Naik while addressing the Rajya Sabha said, “No. However, yoga is one of the subjects along with physical and health education, and is also included as part of the physical activity in all schools affiliated to CBSE across the country.” The minister further added that the yoga would be included as one of the units under physical education curriculum at the senior secondary level in schools and educational institutes.

University Grants Commission has included Yoga into its modules on the health, nutrition, fitness and general well-being in all its courses at the undergraduate and post-graduate level. The commission has revised the XIIth Plan guidelines on the scheme of development of sports infrastructure and equipment at universities and colleges around the country.

According to Naik, “Education is a concurrent subject and state governments administer the schools within their jurisdiction (and also) develop and prescribe their own curriculum.” The statement made it quite clear that the central government has no intentions to make yoga a compulsory affair and burden the students to undergo the same whether they are willing to opt for it or not. This would further enhance the interest of the students and would encourage students who are interested in yoga to take it up on a regular basis.