THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Imagine being a sports enthusiast, and learning about the angle of projection in your physics classrooms through an example of javelin throw, or why a pole vaulter bends his pole before the jump! In what is claimed as the first-of-its-kind in the country, SCERT is all set to introduce sports-integrated curriculum into 44 new textbooks in Classes 5-10 for students of sports schools in the state.
Planning to implement in 2027-28, SCERT officials remarked that the new approach of integrating sports elements will be applied in suitable portions of all possible subjects, including science, social science, mathematics and even languages.
“We expect this to have a two-way benefit-- sports helping students to understand lessons better, and vice versa,” a top official from SCERT said. Mentioning that sports school students are hostellers without much social exposure beyond their institution, he said the best way to teach them will be through such textbooks.
“We are exploring possibilities on how to link subjects like social science to it, perhaps through the historical significance of certain sports. This is a new pedagogical perspective, in a sports model,” another official remarked. The second phase of this initiative will see the drafting of similar textbooks for Classes 11 and 12, also.
Expected to begin this year, the textbook drafting will be funded by the sports department. “Multiple sessions, with physical education trainers and subject teachers, are required to effectively draft this,” he said. Along with this, a teacher’s handbook will also be prepared for sports school trainers.
“As faculty members who engage with students full-time, it is critical that these teachers are also aware of the syllabus content. In addition to this, the state will also introduce physical education textbooks for Classes 11 and 12 for the first time. “Currently, we have nothing more than PT hours for these classes, which would often be taken by other teachers. The textbooks have already been drafted and are awaiting approval from the curriculum committee,” an official said.
To be implemented in 44 new textbooks in classes 5-10
SCERT is set to introduce sports-integrated curriculum into 44 new textbooks in Classes 5-10 for students of sports schools in the state. Planning to implement in 2027-28, SCERT officials remarked that this will be applied in suitable portions of all possible subjects, including science, social science, mathematics and even languages