CBSE schools to include yoga as an activity

In order to promote the concept of yoga, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has directed all schools in its jurisdiction to include yoga as an activity for assessment under comprehensive and continuous evaluation (CCE) of students and provide grades for it in the report cards.

The board has also asked the schools to see to it that the children studying in Classes 6 and above regularly practise the controversial “common yoga protocol,” developed by the Union ministry of Ayush, which begins with the chanting of Hindu religious mantra “Om” and shlokas.

For this, a circular has been issued to the principals of all CBSE affiliated schools as board secretary Joseph Emmanuel asked them to participate in the International Yoga Day events on a “voluntary basis.” He also advised them to carry out activities for the whole academic year so as to “make it a part of daily school routine.”

Asking all the schools to organise mass yoga demonstrations, the CBSE circular said that it yoga be practised at least once a week early in the morning during assembly hours. It also said: “The schools should also organise musical yoga events, fests, debates, essay contests, quizzes and drawing contests based on yoga. Yoga assessment/grades shall be depicted in each student’s annual report card and the assessment should be done up to secondary level.” Referring to the protocol devised by the Union Ayush ministry, senior CBSE officials suggested, “The common yoga protocol must regularly be practised by the children of Class 6 and above.”

Several Muslim organisations have raised questions over chanting of “Om” as suggested under the protocol. However, Ayush ministry officials maintained that it was not mandatory. A CBSE official said that the schools should send a yoga or physical education teacher for a certification course being organised by the Ayush ministry in collaboration with the Quality Council of India.

“Yoga is already listed as an activity under the CCE activities, and the circular has only reiterated that,” the official added.