Govt aims for safe sports at school

Issues instructions after student dies playing tamachadar kabbadi

LAHORE: The Punjab School Education Department (SED) has issued safety instructions for sports/games periods and break time at schools of the province after a student lost his life playing kabaddi on April 14.

Following the incident, the department initially banned kabaddi at schools during recess time. The SED also issued instructions for the school administration during break-time games at schools.

Bilal, a student of Grade-VI at the Government High School Mian Channu in Khanewal district, lost his life when playing ‘tamachadar kabaddi’, a game that involves slapping an opponent on the face. In response, the SED banned the game and issued a notification that stated: "During recess time, all such activities and games which may cause serious incidents are banned. The break in charge should keep an eye during recess time to avoid such incidents and head of the institution should direct all teachers to guide students to avoid such activities."



After the initial ban, the department has moved to issue instructions to further safeguard students. In another letter issued on Friday by the SED Chief Minister's Monitoring Force to all district education authorities’ (DEAs) chief executive officers (CEOs), it was stated that the preventive measures must be implemented.

According to the letter, "It is advised that the following preventive measures should be taken by the school administration for playing games in schools during break time and games period." The letter mentions eight instructions for safeguarding students.

According to the letter, "Games, sports must be carried out under the supervision of the PT/sports in charge.

If no physical education teacher is available, then another interested and energetic member of the teaching staff may be deputed for the purpose." The second point said, "Sports committees [should] be established in schools. It is better to establish a committee for each sport. The committee must include a teacher and student(s)."

The third point said, "The schedule of games period or detail of games during the recess must be prepared and should be displayed in the office of the head of the institution." Furthermore, it stated: "All preventive measures should be taken during the games." The letter also instructed that wearing guards, gloves, pads and other preventive accessories should be made compulsory for students participating in the games. It added that all games or sports, which may cause physical harm to students, like tamachadar kabaddi, are not permissible.

The letter directed that the CEOs to ensure implementation the directions in letter and spirit at all government and private educational institutions across Punjab.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 21^st, 2018.