Surya Namaskar must in all Rajasthan schools till Feb 15

JAIPUR: Rajasthan's education department issued an order on Tuesday night making Surya Namaskar practice mandatory at all schools - government and private - across the state till Feb 15. State education minister Madan Dilawar said Surya Namaskar will initially be mandatory during morning prayers at all schools and a further decision would be taken after Feb 15.However, teachers have opposed the move, saying it will increase their non-academic work and consume students' classroom time.
As per state director for secondary education Ashish Modi's order, students will be made to perform Surya Namaskar on Surya Saptami (Feb 15), in all schools, and the department will impart Surya Namaskar training to students and teachers before Feb 15. First, teachers and students will be trained by yoga experts. Then, students' parents, villagers and public representatives will join the campaign on Feb 15.
The education department has also instructed officials to register information regarding students, teachers, parents, local public representatives and the general public who perform Surya Namaskar on the Shala Darpan portal at 2 pm the same day, which will then be sent for world record recognition. The order mentions there should be separate practice for boys and girls in schools, and the health and age of students must be checked in advance.
"A student should practice Surya Namaskars every day after the morning prayers as we are able to do everything only due to sunlight. There will be a big program on Surya Saptami to motivate people to exercise," Dilawar said.
However, Rajasthan Primary and Secondary Teachers Association senior vice-president Vipin Prakash Sharma said, "The priority should be on improving quality of education in the state and filling vacant posts for teachers. This is a good initiative, which could be started from the new academic session also. This is the time for board exams and students are busy preparing."
Narayan Singh, a member of a teachers' association in the state, said, "We hoped the new government would reduce non-academic work, but it is not happening on the ground. Now at least half an hour will be utilised in calling parents to the school and arrangements, which will eat into teaching time itself."