This document provides a summary of how the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP) aims to promote student health and fitness in schools. Key points include: - Emphasizing holistic education and integrating sports into the curriculum to promote physical and mental well-being. - Expanding the mid-day meal program and introducing breakfast programs to improve nutrition. - Including health education, fitness, hygiene, and nutrition as subjects in the curriculum. - Recommending measures like regular health checks, counselling services, and reducing school bag weights to ensure healthy learning environments. - Noting the importance of education in addressing critical health challenges in India through areas like science, healthcare, and community medicine.

1. Contributionof Physical Educationfor the promotion of Healthand Fitness in
Schools withreference toNEP
Shantanu Singh Kakran ( I.d. No. 84)
The numberof non-educational activitiesthatchildrendoinIndiahasincreasedoverthe lastfew years.
Withrisingincomes,the proliferationof placessellingjunkfood,andthe easyavailabilityof non-
academicactivities,childrenare spendinglesstime keepingthemselveshealthy.Addtothisthe
proliferationof mobiles,TV,andcomputersandyouknow whychildrenare nolongerkeenonhealth.
Andso physical educationinschoolsinIndiaplaysaveryconsequential roleinkeepingchildrenfitand
active.Physical educationhelpsindevelopingstudents’competence andconfidence.Ithelpsthemto
take part in a wide range of physical activitiesthatare crucial to theirlives— bothinandoutof school.A
high-qualityphysical educationprogramenables all studentstoenjoyandsucceedinmanykindsof
physical activities.The importance of physical educationprogramsistohelpstudentstodevelopawide
range of skillsaswell asgivesthemthe abilitytouse tactics,strategies,andnewerideastoperform
successfullybothathome andschool.
Physical Fitness
Physical fitnessisthe keyingredientforahealthylifestyle.Thisiswhyphysical educationisanimportant
elementinmostschools.Whenstudentshave regularfitnessactivitiesaspartof theirdailyregimen,
theystay fitandhealthy.Regularphysical activitiesdailyhelpinbetterabsorptionof nutrientsinthe
bodyand alsohelpsinimprovingcardiovascularhealthanddevelopingmuscularstrength.
Social Interaction
Apart fromthe classroom,physical educationisthe onlytime whenstudentscanmeetandinteractwith
theirclassmatesandotherschoolmates.Ithelpsimprove theirsocial behavior.Duringthe physical
educationclass,theylearntocooperate throughvariousgroupactivities andgeta sense of identityfrom
each otheras well asof the team.These social activitiescontinue toplayanimportantrole inthe
growthof a studentintoa betterprofessional.Forinstance,sportsisone of the bestsourcesto instill
teambuilding, leadership,andmanagementskillsinthem.
ReducesStress
There’simmenseacademicpressureonkidslately.Mostschoolsgive importance tocore subjectsand
studentsare undertremendouspressure toperformbetterinthese subjects.Evenafterspending
several hoursinthe school,theyhave toworkon homeworkathome and thisleavesthemwithlittle
time to doanythingelse.
Breaks Monotony, Helpsto Focus

2. We all knowwhathappenstous we do not take breaks.Itaffectsour workand we lose focus.Kidstoo
are susceptibletothismonotony.Theyneedmore thanone breakinaday if theyare completely
academically-focussed.Thisiswhere physical educationcomesintothe picture.Whenstudentsget
involvedwithphysical activityinthe school,theycanbreakthe monotonyandburnup the excess
energythatis causingboredom,leadingthemtofidgetinthe classroomaswell asnotbeingable topay
attentioninthe classroom.
Learn The Importance of Staying Healthy
We all learnbyobservingothers.Similarly, childrenlearnbywatchingouractionsandbehaviors.They
needsomeone thatcanact as a role model andhelpthemtostart exercisingtostayfit.Physical
educationisone of the bestwaysto teach themthe basicsof exercising.We all know how physical
educationintroducesstudentstoexercisesandwhentheyenjoythat,theywillcontinuetodoit forthe
restof theirlives.Physical educationisalsoone of the bestwaysto learnaboutthe differentkindsof
physical activitiesthattheycanenjoy.
Nutrition
One of the mainelementsof physical educationisnutritionandthere’snodenyingthat.Childrenlearn
aboutthe importance of nutritionduringphysical educationclasses.Theyalsolearnaboutkey
nutritional guidelines.
Learn Positive Behaviors
Accordingto an oldEnglishproverb,“Anidle brainisthe devil’sworkshop,”andthatholdstrue for
studentswhositidle.Bothclassroomeducationandphysical educationkeepthemengagedandprevent
themfromgoingastray. Andwhentheyare engagedwith physical activities,theygettoworkas a team.
Whenengagedinphysical education,studentswillalsolearntovalue education.
CONCLUSION
Many CBSE schoolshave made physical educationanessential partof theireducationprogrambecause
theyknowthat physical educationplaysakeyrole inthe developmentof astudent’slife.Thisisbecause
of the fact studentswhoparticipate inphysicalactivitiesare alwayshappierandhealthierthanthose
studentsthatspendall theirtime studying.Ithasbeenknownphysical activitieshelpinprovidingmore
oxygentothe heart andbrain andallowsthe bodyto maintainabalance betweenphysical andmental
health.
Schoolsshouldconsiderseveral factorsinthe developmentof physical activitiesandone of those isthe
age of the student.Schoolsneedtohave age-appropriate physical educationprogramsforstudents.At
OrchidsThe International School,we are aware of the importance of physical educationandhave a
healthymix of academic,non-academic,andphysical educationactivitiesforthe holisticgrowthof the
children.

3. NewEducation Policy And Students’Health
The recentNational EducationPolicy2020 (NEP) has broughtabouta monumental change inour
educationsystem.Indoingso,ithasalso placedhighpriorityonchildren’shealthandtheir
nourishment.
Healthand educationare stronglyinterconnected.While healthyindividualsare more likelytohave
bettereducationoutcomes,righteducationcanimprove the healthstatusof ahousehold.The recently
releasedNational EducationPolicy2020 (NEP) proposestobringa paradigmshiftinIndianeducation.In
doingso,it recognizesthe needforpropernourishmentand goodhealthtoaid optimal learning,and
proposescertainhealth-relatedinterventions.
The followingare the keyapproachesandinterventionsonhealthproposedinthe NEP.
Holisticeducation withsports-integration
Multidisciplinarity andholisticeducationare partof the keyprinciplesof the NEP.Alongwithsubjects
like the sciencesandsocial sciences,the curriculummustcontaincoursesthatmake educationwell-
rounded,useful andfulfilling,includinggames,sportsandfitness.
At the school level,the NEPproposessports-integration,orutilizingphysical activitiesinpedagogical
practices,to increase the students’cognitive abilities,while promotingtheirphysical andpsychological
well-being.Sports-integratedlearningwill helpstudentsachievefitnesslevelsenvisagedinthe FitIndia
movement,andadoptfitnessasalifelongattitude.Itwillalsodeveloptheirskillslike collaboration,self-
initiative,teamworkandresponsibility.
The NEP alsoproposesotherwaysto increase school students’exposure tosportsandotheractivities.It
offersincreasedflexibilityandchoice of subjects,allowingstudentstochoose physical educationaspart
of the curriculum.The Policyalsoproposes‘bagless’daystoallow studentstoengage inlocal vocational
and otheractivities,suchassportsandgardening.The NEPfurtherencouragesformationof clubs,
includingforsports,yoga,andhealthandwell-being,atthe levelsof schools,school complexes,districts
and beyond.
Highereducationinstitutionswillalsohave departmentsinsubjectslike sports,artand music,toprovide
a multidisciplinaryandstimulatingenvironment.Creditswillbe givenforsuchsubjectsinundergraduate
programmes.
For adulteducation,the policyproposes developmentof aneducationcurriculumframework.Along
withbasicliteracy,numeracyandeducation,the frameworkwillinclude critical life skills(including
healthcare andawareness,childcare andeducation,andfamilywelfare);andcontinuingeducation
(includingsportsandrecreation).
Expansionof food programme

4. India’smid-daymeal programme exemplifiesthe convergence of educationwithafoodandnutrition
programme.Currently,mid-daymealsare providedtochildreninClasses1to 8, studyingprimarilyin
governmentandgovernment-aidedschools.The NEPproposesprovisionof earlychildchildhoodcare
and educationtochildrenbelow5yearsof age in PreparatoryClassesinprimaryschools,andextends
the mid-daymeal programme tothese students.
Further,NEPproposesprovisionof breakfastforschool childreninadditiontomid-daymeals,sothat
childrencanbenefitfromthe increasedproductivityduringmorninghoursafterahealthybreakfast,
especiallyforthe studyof demandingsubjects.Where servingcookedmealsisnotfeasible,breakfast
may include simple-yet-nutritiousfoodslike groundnuts/chanawithjaggeryand/orfruits.
To reduce teachers’time spentonnon-teachingactivities,the NEPrecommendsnotrequiringteachers
to spendmore thana rationalizedtime onmid-daymeal relatedwork.Itisnothoweverclearhowthis
will be implemented,especiallyconsideringthe expandedfoodprogramme.
Health education
Notingthe importance of healtheducationinschools,the NEPincludeshealthandnutrition,physical
education,fitness,wellness,sports,sanitationandhygiene assome of the keysubjects,skillsand
capacitiesthatmustbe learnedbyeveryone.Accordingly,the NEPproposesthe inclusionof trainingin
health,includingpreventive health,mental health,goodnutrition,personal andpublichygiene,disaster
response andfirst-aid,anddetrimental effectsof alcohol,tobaccoandotherdrugs,as part of the school
curriculum.
Consideringthe increasingprevalence of non-communicable diseasesandintake of poordiets,thisisan
importantreformthatmay leadto behaviorchange towardshealthierhabits.However,the NEPdoes
not provide anyroadmapor frameworkforinclusionof healtheducationinthe curriculum,andmuch
will dependuponimplementationeffortstowardsthe Policy.
Healthy learningenvironments
The NEP proposessome othermeasuresforpromotingphysical andmental health.Thisincludesregular
healthcheck-upsinschools,especiallyfor100% immunization,andhealthmonitoringthroughhealth
cards. Healthcheck-upsandgrowthmonitoringunderAnganwadi systemwill be extendedto
PreparatoryClassstudents.The NEPalsorecommendsreducingthe weightof school bagsand
textbooks.Formental andemotionalhealthof children, the NEPproposesintroductionof social
workers,counsellorsandcommunityinvolvementintothe schoolingsystem.Forimplementationof
some of these reforms,the NEPproposesthe conceptof school complexes,whichwill involve sharingof
resourceslike teachers,counsellorsandsportsequipmentandfacilities.Further,special shorterteacher
educationprogrammeswillenable eminentpersonstoteachatschoolsfor local professions,
knowledge,andskills,includingsports.
The NEP alsoproposesensuringmedical facilitiesandcounselingserviceswithinhighereducation
institutions.

5. Addressingcritical healthchallenges
Takinga forward-lookingapproach,the NEPhighlightsthe needtodevelopaneducationsystemthat
enablesIndiatoaddressitskeychallenges,includinginhealth.Thiswill require high-qualitystudiesin
science,social sciencesandhumanities,interdisciplinaryresearch,andotheradvancementsinthe
educationsystem.Indiashouldalsofocusoncutting-edge areas,suchasartificial intelligence,bigdata
and genomicstudies.These studiescanhave importantapplicationsincritical areas,includinghealth.
The NEP furthernotesthe needtoimprove professional educationincertainfields,includingagriculture
and healthcare.Agriculture educationshouldbe able todevelopprofessionalswhocanaddressissues
such as foodsufficiencyanddeclininglandproductivity.Healthcare educationshouldbe re-envisioned
to make the programmesmore useful,andtofocuson preventivehealthcare andcommunitymedicine.
Althoughprovidingahealthyenvironmenttoa childcan include otheraspects,the NEPtakesastep
towardsintegratingeducationandhealthtoenablechildrentolearnandgrow as healthyindividuals.
Beinga policydocument,itmerelyprovidesaframework,leavingalotto implementation.While
implementationcanbe challenging,itcango a longwayinimprovingbotheducationandhealthof the
childrenof ourcountry.