New physical education curriculum delivered in Gram Vikas Kankia School in Odisha, India

For the past year, Pro Sport Development has been integrating physical education into the school curriculum at the Gram Vikas Kankia School in Odisha, India. Whilst there have been challenges to overcome, real strides have been taken since the 26 January, 2014 The arrival of a qualified PE teacher from the UK, with a background in curriculum development has helped to add structure and integrate key elements from international education and sporting principles such as the UK’s 'every child matters' framework and the long term athlete development plan.

Course content and development
Students in grades three through six receive lessons based on FUNdamentals and Learning to Train, which focus on adapted games to foster enjoyment, achievement and creativity. Targeted areas of focus in the adapted games include motor skills and key sport skills so that they can be adapted for use in the variety of sports that are now being taught to students in grades seven and eight. Progressive stage schemes of work based on acclaimed work from the UK and Australia focus on refining skills and developing gameplay and cognitive and social skills as well. The range of sports experienced has been extended to include international favourites like handball and football while incorporating local favourites, badminton and volleyball.

Response
It is important to the staff at Pro Sport Development that the Khel Vikas project provides a well-balanced PE curriculum for all students. Female students are now being fully integrated into the same activities as the males, this has already shown a fantastic increase in confidence in some of the girls while it also seems to be fostering a change in perception from the boys: that the girls are more than capable; and that equality is an integral part of life. There are also higher expectations of the students which has already led to greater levels of participation and more active classes. This in turn will lead to fitter, healthier students and ones that are more suited to the driven, competitive nature of higher education and the world of work.