Sport might become a subject in Mumbai schools

Soon, along with English and History, your child will also learn about goalkeeping and curve balls. International schools in the city might turn ‘Sport’ into a compulsory subject. 

With the launch of the third International Schools Premier League (ISPL) on Friday, heads of international schools in the city will discuss how to integrate sports into the curriculum, so as to give students a platform to specialise in sports. 

ISPL, a first-of-its-kind competition between international schools, is in its third year and will focus on creating awareness about sports amongst schools and parents. 

Children will be exposed to a variety of sports such as basketball, table tennis, football, etc. Later, the child will be given an opportunity to choose one sport of his choice. Further, the child will be given intense training in that sport. “Often, in schools, sports is just Physical Education or training periods. We need to develop a concept like the Ivy League colleges abroad where sporting talent is a plus point and not an impediment in children’s education,” said Rajani Pasttabhiraman, principal, Billabong International High School, Thane. 

According to Jay Shah, founder of ISPL, sports has long held a positive influence in children’s lives by teaching them the value of sportsmanship, teamwork and dedication. “Sports is often considered to be healthy, not only physically but also psychologically. In today’s day and age, when childhood obesity is reaching epic proportions, sports can serve as a great outlet for children to get the physical exercise they need,” he said.