The recent initiatives taken by the state school education department are bound to create a positive attitude and build a healthy immune system in children.
The first one is schools to have mandatory water breaks for students, The government has made it compulsory for schools to allot three special breaks, 5 to 10 minutes daily, to encourage children to drink water in the class and remain hydrated. The government also said water bells will be introduced to ensure that students drink water in morning, afternoon and evening during special breaks.
Parents have been complaining that their wards don't drink enough water during class hours. While children think teachers will not allow them to use the toilet when the class is going on, teachers say allowing kids to drink water during class hours will lead to children using the toilet often.
However, dehydration can lead to poor concentration, lethargy and dizziness. Also cases of urinary infection are on the rise in children.
In a related development, the government instructed schools to keep their toilets clean and functional so that children don't hesitate to use toilets after water breaks. Drinking water at regular intervals has health benefits.
The second initiative sought students to spend time on physical activities daily in school. It will be playtime for children 15 minutes before assembly and 45 minutes after school hours every day.
Though physical education is compulsory in schools with two PT sessions every week, it has not been implemented properly. The latest directive that children must spend one hour in physical activities is the step in the right direction.
Earlier, children used to play with their peer group in and round their houses and on streets. It helped in their overall growth and developed their competitive spirit and leadership skills.
Pressure to perform well, extra-curricular activities and other tech diversions have left children now with no time to play.
Schools must also make sure they have enough PT teachers and playgrounds. Making physical education compulsory this way will make children agile, smart and alert. Yet another interesting measure is government schools from next year will allot one period every week to improve spoken English skills of students of classes 1 to 9. Fluency in English will be an added advantage when they face career challenges in the future.
These measures will go a long way in sharpening the skills and shaping the attitude of students besides driving them to realize their dreams and achieve success.
