DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand has become the first state in the country to start games period in registered madrassas from the next academic year starting July. The move to add games period in the daily timetable is aimed at bringing the madrassa students on par with mainstream schools.

The additional period will help students to look into different career avenues apart from academics and will also help groom their overall personality.

A slew of changes have been carried out in the 297 registered madrassas of Uttarakhand in the past one year as part of the state’s modernization initiatives. The new session that is going to start from July will also include Sanskrit in Uttarakhand madrassa education board (UMEB) course.

The changes are not limited to the books or curriculum as the state government wants to make an overall change in registered madrassas for the larger benefit of students. A change in uniform of madrassa students is also in the offing in Uttarakhand, according to top UMEB officials.

Haji Akhlaq Ahmad, deputy registrar of UMEB, said, “Uttarakhand is the first state of the country to introduce games period in the timetable for overall growth of students. With this the only focus will not be book anymore. Students will also be in a better position to make career choices.”

The state government will provide a budget for buying sporting equipment before the beginning of the session and the games period will be included in the timetable for every day.

According to a latest survey by UMEB, Uttarakhand has 52,000 students and among them maximum are from primary classes.

An UMEB official said, “Our aim is to make children on par with students from other schools and universities when they pursue higher education in other states or countries. Some students don’t fare good in studies, however, they are good in sports. We want to give our students equal opportunities. At present, the state madrassa board is undergoing a slew of fruitful changes.”

Our latest successful initiative was organizing examination of classes X and XII in selected 13 Government Inter Colleges rather than madrassas, Tiwari added. Officials said that the move was taken in the wake of excessive irregularities and lack of vigilance in the madrassas during examinations in earlier years.

Ahmad added, “We received several complaints regarding lack of invigilators and adequate drinking water and washroom facilities in the madrassas during exams which was not acceptable. We could not afford to allow our students appear for exams like that. It certainly would have had an impact on their results.”

Shaheen Bano, 8, from Madrassa-Arbia-Rehmania, Roorkee, said, “This is a very good initiative and I am overjoyed. Now like my other friends from the locality, I will also be able to take part in sports competitions and win prizes.”