CBSE Directs Schools to Train Girls on Self-defence

Looking at the increasing crime rate against the women the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued directions to all the affiliated schools to dedicate 45 minutes everyday to provide self-defence training to girls students.

The CBSE through its earlier advisory issued in the year 2010 had suggested that there should be at least 40-45 minutes of physical activities or games period for classes I-X everyday.

“It is now suggested that one period out of these may be earmarked for self-defence activities for girls. This will ensure that after the initial week’s training, the girl students are continuously updated with knowledge, strategies and skills for self-defence,” the circular said.

It has also been advised that non-contact sports may be considered for training girls in self-defence as they possibly cause less injury than contact sports and those sports which do not involve any special infrastructure be adopted for this initiative.

There is no doubt that making the self-defence training a part of curriculum will help the girls a lot but we would have to work out the modalities on reserving 45 minutes to train the girls on a daily basis, said a principal of a school.
“Several schools across the country have been running their training on Taekwondo and Karate. The recent circular would embolden these school authorities to take the self- defence of the girls more seriously,” said Rabin Saikia, a parents of student.

But it is to be seen how the school authorities implement the direction.