I don’t know how, if we write or present our words, the state and state authorities will understand the importance of our legitimate demand. We do not want any special benefits, we just want the opportunity to use our education, training, qualifications and experience for the benefit of the country. We are college physical education teachers. We want to teach, we want to be involved in class activities, we want to work with students. We do not want to be lazy. We are not just talking about our own interests. If our demands are met, the benefits will not be limited to us alone; rather, the fulfillment of our demands is associated with the improvement of the quality of education, the physical and mental well-being of the young generation, employment, social order and the interests of the national economy. A healthy and capable person is an asset not only for himself, but also for his family, society and the state. Therefore, there is no room for investment in physical education as an additional expense; it is an investment in creating future human resources.
The purpose of education is not just to get good results in exams or to get a certificate. The main goal of education is to develop a student into a worthy citizen of the future. Along with knowledge, he needs a healthy body, a healthy mind, confidence, discipline, tolerance, sense of responsibility and leadership ability. This is where the importance of physical education and sports lies. The classroom gives the student knowledge, and the field teaches him to apply that knowledge and sense of life in practice. Through sports, a young person learns to follow the rules, understand the value of time, work hard, work as a team, respect the opponent and bounce back after defeat. That is, field education is part of life education.
The National Education Policy of Bangladesh 2010 recognizes the importance of health and physical education. It links physical education with good health, discipline and punctuality, and emphasizes creating a suitable environment for sports to keep students away from drug addiction. It also talks about expanding physical education at the college and university levels. So, what is the scope for marginalizing a subject that has been recognized as important in the state’s own education policy in the actual education system? Article 17 of the Constitution of Bangladesh has given the state the responsibility to develop an education system through which suitably trained and motivated citizens can be produced. Article 18 mentions the development of public health and nutrition as one of the primary responsibilities of the state and talks about preventing the use of drugs and intoxicants that are harmful to health. In light of this constitutional responsibility, it is the demand of the hour to make physical education and sports more effective in the physical and mental development of students, good health and building anti-drug awareness.
It is also an important issue for public health. The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized the importance of regular physical activity for children and adolescents. The WHO Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior were published on November 25, 2020 and provide specific recommendations for children and adolescents aged 5–17 years. Regular physical activity not only improves physical fitness; it is also beneficial for bone health, cognitive ability, and mental well-being. Conversely, physical inactivity can increase various health risks in the future. UNESCO also considers quality physical education as an important component of students’ physical, social, and emotional development. Sports also play a role in developing life skills such as cooperation, communication, leadership, discipline, and teamwork. While the world sees physical education as an integral part of education and public health, there is no room for underestimating its importance in Bangladesh.
Today’s youth are facing various risks. Drug addiction, depression, social isolation, criminality and self-destructive tendencies are worrying families and society. In this situation, a permanent solution to the problem is not possible through laws, punishments or awareness speeches alone. Real alternatives to a healthy and positive lifestyle must be created in front of the youth. One of the most powerful means of that alternative is sports. When a young person is on the field, his time and energy are spent on positive things. He learns to compete, learns to accept failure, tries to overcome his limitations and learns to rise above personal interests for the success of the team. These experiences influence his character and outlook on life. It is important to increase regular physical education and sports opportunities in educational institutions to bring the youth back from the darkness of drugs and to build confidence and a positive mindset in them.
Patriotism is not just a matter of speeches or slogans. Patriotism is developed through a sense of responsibility, discipline, team spirit and the mentality of doing something for the country. Sports are an effective field for practicing these values. A student who plays for a team learns that team success is sometimes greater than individual success. He learns to lead, and when necessary, to accept leadership. Victory makes him confident, defeat teaches him patience and resilience. This is why it can be said – “Sports are strength, sports are force; sports are world victory.” Watching a young man playing on the field under the national flag may be a common sight; but within that scene, a deep love for the country and the nation can be formed.
The question is – where there are trained and qualified college physical education teachers, why should they not be properly involved in class activities? A physical education teacher is not limited to the responsibility of organizing annual sports competitions. Providing physical education to students, making them aware of health and fitness, encouraging regular physical activities, developing sports skills and instilling healthy lifestyle habits are also part of his educational responsibility. When the state has prepared a teacher through education and training, not utilizing his skills properly is a kind of waste of human resources. Keeping a teacher inactive does not only mean wasting the performance of a person; it also means depriving students of an important field of education. In our country, although the name of the post is college physical education teacher, their title is non-teacher. They do not have any promotion in their service life. They retire from the post in which they are appointed. Which is very shameful and disappointing. There is an opportunity for promotion at the school level in the same post.
When the state has appointed trained college physical education teachers, how can the state ensure the overall development of education by keeping them out of the classroom activities? Our demand is not just a demand for jobs or positions. It is a demand for the rights of students, a demand for improving the quality of education, and a demand for building a healthy generation. If the scope of physical education and sports increases, employment opportunities in the fields of instructors, coaches, sports management, fitness, sports science, and other related fields can also increase. As a result, it can also play a role in creating employment for educated youth. At the same time, a healthy and active population can increase the productivity of the country in the long run and help reduce health risks and costs caused by physical inactivity. Therefore, investment in physical education does not mean just spending on fields or sports equipment; it is an investment in human resource development.
Our appeal to the state is very clear—give us a job opportunity, not mercy. Give us a chance to use our abilities, not favors. Take us back to the classroom and give us a chance to work with students. Do not see our demand as just a demand of a professional group. See it as part of the larger national interest of education, public health, employment, anti-drug social prevention and shaping the future generation. We want an education system where students are not only prepared for exams; they are also prepared for life. Where the classroom and the field complement each other. Where body, mind, character and leadership develop along with books. We are college physical education teachers. We want to teach. We want to be with class activities. We want to develop students. We want to bring the youth back from the darkness of drugs. We want to instill the spirit of leadership and patriotism. We want to work for the country. We do not want to be idle. If the state uses our abilities properly, maybe a few teachers will get their rightful workplace back; but a larger range will benefit from it—our students, our young society and ultimately Bangladesh. Do not keep us sitting. Put us to work. Because we are not a burden—we are the human resources of the state.
Shudir Baran Mazi, Physical Education Teacher, Haimchar Government College, Haimchar, Chandpur.
