Pune: Lack of Playgrounds Hinders Physical Education in 54 Municipal Schools of PCMC
Pimpri Chinchwad, 29th January 2024: Students attending 54 civic schools in Pimpri Chinchwad are being deprived of regular physical activities due to the absence of dedicated playgrounds. Officials from the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) acknowledge that many schools, particularly older ones, lack a designated play area, leading to a significant limitation in physical activities for students confined within classrooms.
Pimpri Chinchwad houses a total of 139 civic schools, with efforts made to ensure that new schools are equipped with dedicated playgrounds. However, the challenge persists for older schools without such facilities. To address this, PCMC arranges for students from schools without playgrounds to use nearby schools’ facilities. Although there is no fixed schedule for these arrangements, physical activities are conducted at least once a week, according to Assistant Municipal Commissioner Vijaykumar Thorat.
Thorat acknowledges that some schools lack nearby playgrounds, resulting in students missing out on essential physical activities. This issue is not unique to Pimpri Chinchwad, as experts believe it is a statewide concern in Maharashtra.
Vishwanath Patole, President of Maharashtra State Physical Education Coordination Committee, expresses concern, stating that approximately 80% of schools in Maharashtra lack adequate infrastructure for physical activities. He criticizes government policies for granting permissions to schools lacking sufficient space and emphasizes the need for policy-level decisions to promote physical education in schools.
