Sudhir Baran Majhi

The key to a long-lasting happy life is physical education and sports. Physical education is a part of general education. Education is not complete without physical education. Just as a person without limbs is not a complete person, our general education cannot be complete without physical education. Physical education not only develops physically, it also develops mentally, spiritually and character, making a student a responsible and complete citizen of the future. Although there is a huge demand, expansion and research on physical education in almost all countries of the world, the picture in our country is completely opposite. Physical education is extremely neglected here. Many people turn their noses up when they talk about physical education here. Looking at their behavior, it seems that physical education is a matter of extreme crime. In almost all countries of the world, a lot of money is invested in physical education to build a healthy, beautiful and prosperous nation.Although physical education was once part of our mainstream education, for some unknown reason and due to the whims of some people, physical education was separated from mainstream education and the subject was excluded from public examinations. In China, if a child does not know how to
swim, he is not admitted to primary school. The Germans said, we do not want hospitals, we want playgrounds, we want gyms. In this era, with ignorance and blindness to physical education, even if animals and humans survive, they cannot survive as healthy people. Physical education is the science and art of human movement. One of the areas of physical fitness, mutual interaction, civilization and
culture is sports. Many educational institutions do not have trained physical education teachers,there are no necessary sports equipment or a suitable environment for playing. In most cases, this lesson is considered unimportant, as a result of which students are not interested in taking it. As a result of this neglect, physical ability is decreasing among students, mental stress is increasing, and human qualities such as leadership, tolerance and team spirit are not being developed. However, the importance of physical education in building a healthy society is immense.Physical education plays a significant role in the development and prosperity of a nation, both directly and indirectly. In almost all countries, including India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Japan, and the United States, physical education is included in the curriculum at the college level. The 2012 ‘Shape of the Nation Report’ by the US National Association for Sports and Physical Education and the American Heart Association found that while about 75% of states offer physical education through high school, more than half of the states allow students to substitute other activities for required physical education
credits. According to the report, only six states (Illinois, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York,
and Vermont) have physical education programs at every grade level. The NCHS offers a P.E. class
that incorporates cardiovascular exercise, core strength training, cross-lateral movements, as well as
literacy and math strategies that enhance learning and improve achievement. A study shows that in
almost all countries of the world, except Bangladesh, it is possible to contribute 2-3% of GDP directly
and up to 10% indirectly. The impact of sport has been assessed at 2.25% of GDP in Scotland, 2.20%
of GDP in the UK, 2.50% of GDP in the US, and 1.5% of GDP in Canada and New Zealand. Any
structured and/or repetitive physical activity performed or practiced where the main purpose is to
achieve improved physical fitness. The potential of a sport-based approach to contribute widely to

development outcomes has been recognized across international policy declarations, most notably the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The contribution of sport-based policies to sustainable development, physical activity and physical education policies are key to the sustainable development of sport, physical education and physical activity policies and both constructive and collective policies require efficient planning and design. Adequate investment in physical education,physical activity and sport is needed.Due to extreme neglect, our country's students are not able to fully develop physically and mentally.Educational institutions do not have the necessary equipment, trained teachers or specific plans for physical education. As a result, enthusiasm for sports is decreasing among students, health problems are increasing, and leadership qualities and self-confidence are lacking. To change this situation, it is necessary to create awareness at the national level, make physical education mandatory in education policies, and allocate appropriate budgets. In addition, physical education must be established as an important and prestigious subject by changing the perspective of society. Physical education is not just a game, it is a life-long education that prepares a person for the future in all aspects. Today,students are citizens of the future. And there is no alternative to physical education in educational institutions to develop that citizen as a good citizen. And physical education makes people physically, mentally, socially and nationally self-reliant. If physical education can be saved from neglect, the overall health of the country will improve, new jobs will be created, and economic prosperity will occur. Now is the time to give physical education the respect and importance it deserves. It is easier for foreign students to get scholarships in many European countries if they have skills and experience in physical education and sports.But it is sad but true, physical education has not yet been included in the mainstream of education in our country. There are no adequate playgrounds, suitable trainers or necessary equipment. As a result, students are getting used to a technology-dependent, passive and unconscious life instead of being physically healthy and active. Just as a student acquires leadership, discipline and team spirit through physical education, he also acquires qualities like self-control and confidence. This education helps to keep teenagers away from crime and superstition. Therefore, the importance of physical education is immense for building a healthy, functional and morally rich nation. We should now take planned initiatives at the national level by giving importance to physical education. This education must be introduced in schools and colleges in a compulsory and standard manner. Not only the government, but also the family and society must be aware of this. Physical education must be established in its proper status through teacher training, infrastructural development and increasing public awareness. In order to develop healthy citizens, it is necessary to make physical education, sports and health science subjects mandatory at all levels of education. Physical education is not justabout sports—it also develops a person with discipline, tolerance, and leadership qualities. Therefore, physical education should not be neglected but given priority to build a healthy, functional, and morally developed nation. For the sake of education and our national interest, there is no alternative to including physical education in the core curriculum and board syllabus, as well as in public examinations. Only then will we have a healthy, strong, and conscious generation who will build a better Bangladesh for the future.

The writer is a teacher,Haimchar Government College, Haimchar, Chandpur.