TEAM HERALD
CANACONA: Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar has hit out at school managements, PE teachers and parents for not taking sports seriously and for showing little interest in government-funded sports facilities for school students.
He was speaking at the concluding function of 15 days residential coaching camp organized by Balram Educational Trust at Adarsh-Gram.
“What is the problem and I wonder what is going on in schools? When the government extends all the financial assistance, why are schools shying away from organising sports camps and other related activities for the students,” asked the sports minister.
“It’s equally surprising that parents neither question these school authorities nor do school managements and teachers show any seriousness to promote sports,” he said.
Hitting out at parents, Tawadkar said that when parents look for a balanced development of their children, as including academic education, sports should also be given equal importance.
“Parents should compel the school managements and teachers to deliver on the sports front. Why are parents not raising their voices when their children are denied these government benefits by schools,” he asked.
“Some parents and school managements only complain against government provided coaches, but when the government is ready to deliver and coaches are willing to perform, why there is a lack of interest to promote sports activities in schools,” Tawadkar questioned further.
Earlier, SAG officer Vivek Pawar informed that many schools were approached to host the camp during the Diwali vacation. “Only three schools showed initial interest. Of them, one school failed to proceed further and another school opted out of the camp citing lack of interest by students. Only Balram Residential School at Amone showed keen interest and 153 students and almost all teaching and non-teaching staff participated in the camp,” informed Pawar.
