Maharashtra: The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has given nod to Sports and Physical Education as an optional subject in its new proposed syllabus for junior colleges with effect from academic year 2012-13.

Therefore, if you want to make a career in sports, you can opt for sports education in classes 11 and 12. This subject will carry 100 marks and be available as one of the options along with 70 other optional subjects such as computer science and languages.

Ujwala Patil, Chairperson of the board said this subject will be offered in all streams i.e. Arts, Commerce and Science.

The subject will interest students as it will give more weightage to practicals. In this way students will get a chance to showcase their sporting abilities besides learning theories.

The board has provided the proposed syllabus for Sports and Physical Education to the State Government, which will be finalized on December 12, 2012.

Now, the erstwhile 25 grace marks which are given to a student who is close to failing will be given to those who excel in sports. In this way, the misuse of 25 additional marks will also be checked as said by State School Education Minister Rajendra Dadra.

The draft syllabus suggests a new concept of deriving a Physical Fitness Index for each school and appreciation for schools through awards.

Patil said that we want schools and colleges to encourage this subject in their own way. Non-conventional methods of teaching which creates self-motivation should be adopted and most crucial is student participation.

The proposed syllabus consists of practical for 80 marks and theory for 20 marks. Practical will include athletic, physical fitness, games and yoga while theory will help creating awareness of various issues related to physical education as well as developing an attitude for achieving lifetime wellness.

However, it is a good move yet principals of few colleges are skeptical in view of the fact the idea will not work unless there is decent number of students to opt for the subject. If only few students opt for it then it will not be feasible to offer this subject as it demands trainers for different sports.

Hiring staff for the sake of few students only, does not make sense.