A first, sports tourney for govt schoolteachers

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, December 10

For the first time in the state, the Education Department has decided to organise a sports tournament for government schoolteachers to motivate both teachers as well students towards fitness.

Interestingly, the sports meet, which is scheduled to be held from December 26 to 28 at the Guru Nanak Bhawan of Punjab Agriculture University in Ludhiana, will not only witness participation of physical education and subject teachers, but also school principals, school heads, in-charges and other education officials, who will sweat it out while competing with each other.

Divulging details of the first-of-its-kind inter-district sports tournament, Harbinder Pal, Assistant Education Officer, Sports, said the three-day event would have 12 games — volleyball, kho kho, badminton, table tennis, basketball, chess, handball, football, hockey, tug of war, kabbadi and athletics.

He said as per guidelines, only one-third participation would be of sports teachers while two third subject teachers would compete in the sports meet.

“The aim of the tournament is to bring teachers under the umbrella of the Tandarust Punjab mission by motivating them towards fitness as well sportsmanship which, in turn, will serve as an inspiration to students who follow the footprints of their teachers,” he added.

He said three-day trials for all teachers have been scheduled for December 13, 14 and 15. All teachers from primary, middle, high and senior secondary schools could apply for the same on the spot.

“Teachers are much interested to take part in sports as every day one or the other teacher is making calls to have information in this regard. Over 500 teachers would appear for the trials, but only a few would be selected,” said Harbinder.

He said for every event, a district-level team would be formed and those in the team would go to Ludhiana for the inter-district tournament. Winning teams will go for the nationals.

When asked to know the reason behind the exclusive teachers’ tournament in the state,

Education Secretary Krishan Kumar said under the Tandarust Punjab mission, the state government had already been spreading awareness about being fit and healthy. The tournament, which is being organised specifically on the demand of teachers, is an initiative of the Education Department to motivate youngsters towards sports and for the same, their role models i.e. their teachers have to be sports lovers.