Cut in physical education teacher-student ratio in Keralam schools unlikely to make a difference

Keralam General Education Minister N. Samsudheen’s recent statement that the physical education teacher-student ratio in the State’s schools has been cut from 1:500 to 1:300 is unlikely to make any difference in the present scenario, as a large majority of institutions do not even have these posts.

According to sources, it has been a long time since new physical education teachers were appointed in government schools. Only around 1,800 such teachers are serving in close to 5,400 government and aided upper primary and high schools across the State, as per data made available by physical education teachers’ organisations. Lower primary schools, higher secondary schools, and vocational higher secondary schools do not have these posts. The number of physical education teachers in government schools is not even half of those in aided schools, data collected by the organisations show.

K.V. Devasya, former physical education teacher, Government High School, Kanjirappally, Kottayam, points out that the appointment is based on the Kerala Education Rules framed in 1960. However, more than 70% of the schools do not have physical education teachers at present. UP schools will get the post only if they have over 500 students in total. In high schools, such teachers can be appointed only if classes 8 and 9 have five divisions or more. Though Class 10 students have been given one period for physical education training, because of KER provisions, it is not being considered while creating the posts. Mr. Devasya says that the need of the hour is to amend the KER rules to help create more posts for physical education teachers and appoint them based on vacancies.

K. Nabeel, general secretary, Kerala Private School Physical Education Teachers’ Association, says that the Minister’s statement is solely meant for the protection of posts of existing staff. The State government recently set up a committee led by Olympian P.R. Sreejesh to study the problems in the school sports sector and suggest remedies. Mr. Nabeel says that a government policy on the teacher-student ratio will be finalised only after the committee submits its recommendations.