Delhi govt teachers to go on yoga training at Ramdev’s school

The Delhi government will send physical education and yoga teachers for training to Ramdev’s Patanjali Yogpeeth (Trust) in Uttarakhand.

The government has nominated teachers and said the training will help them master the technique of yoga. In 2015, the government sent teachers for value-based education to Chhattisgarh and then on a paid trip for a course on vipassana, a meditation programme.

The circular sent on September 12 said the training is being organised as students face problems such as stress, depression, lack of concentration and restlessness.

“For the holistic development of a student, the healthy approach towards education and life can be developed right from younger ages yogic practices. These problems can be countered with yoga teaching. To give proper practice of yoga to the school students, the training of physical education teachers and yoga teachers may be an effective tool,” said the circular.

This is a government-sponsored training but teachers will have to make their own travel arrangements.

The 10-day residential yoga training will be held from September 21 to 30. For lodging and food, the trust charges R 1000 per person. A total of 1237 teachers have been nominated by the directorate of education (DoE).

The education director said they were trying to defer the training by a week so that teachers get a longer time to prepare.

“In a day or two, we will issue a circular and give teachers opportunity to apply to the physical education department if they have any problem in attending the training. Then case by case we will consider their request,” said Saumya Gupta, director of education.

Some will be selected as master trainers, after going trough the theory and practical exam.

The Government School Teachers Association (GSTA) has criticised the move and said this will put the burden of yoga on the physical education teachers.