– Mita Mukherjee
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) will launch “physical health and fitness assessment” programme for all students from Classes I to XII and all its affiliated schools have been asked to register their students in the programme.
“As open spaces become increasingly scarce, schools now serve as essential and secure environments where children can engage in physical activity…the council seeks to transform school campuses into vibrant centres of fitness and sports, encouraging students to lead healthier, balanced lives while supporting their academic growth,” the council said in a circular issued to school heads on Monday.
Through it’s new initiative, “ACTIVE CISCE” the council will integrate physical fitness and sports assessment for every student studying in council-affiliated schools.
The council said the objective of the new initiative is to assess physical parameters of every student, nurture and develop sporting skills of students, make physical fitness activites a routine part of students’ lives and promote happiness, health and positivity among students.
The council will provide vertical mobility to talented students through CISCE games and sports competitions.
The programme aims to mandate curriculum-integrated physical activities and assessments to promote physical health, socio-emotional and cognitive growth of all students.
The council has asked the schools to ensure that all students are registered with the council’s Physical Health and Fitness Assessment web portal which will be launched on July 15. The registration of all students should be complete by September 30.
Each registered student will receive a physical health and fitness assessment report card which will include a baseline fitness score, progress tracking across academic years, lifestyle indicators, sports skill badges, health and lifestyle inputs such as diet, screen time and sleep and will also allow for early talent identification, the council said.
Several school welcomed the council’s initiative to assess physical health and fitness through a comprehensive programme.
“The CISCE Active programme will ensure access to structured physical activity for every student.This will help students to keep themselves active and also enable them to become better performer and learner,” said Rodney Borneo, principal of St. Augustine’s Day School, Shyamnagar in Bengal.
