CHENNAI: Sport is a luxury for
many corporation school students in the city. According to corporation
data, more than half of its primary and middle schools, and almost half
of its high schools don’t have playgrounds. The city corporation runs a
total of 281 schools in the city, with a total strength of 83,200. 

Law mandates that every school must have a playground among other
facilities. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act
states that play materials, games, and sports equipment must be provided
to each class as required. However, with school managements appealing
citing the lack of land resources, the Centre in 2012 said it would be
sufficient if schools make adequate arrangements in the adjoining
playgrounds or parks for children.

This,
however, is only possible if there is a Corporation playground nearby,
said an official. “Students will be taken to the nearest Corporation
playground for sports practice. But this is done only once a week,” the
official said. 

“Whenever the Corporation holds
inter-school sports meet, only students from schools with playgrounds
win. That is because they get sufficient practice unlike kids in our
school, who practice just once or twice a week,” said a school
headmaster.

T Devi Selvam, president, Tamil Nadu
Physical Education Teachers/Physical Directors Association, said that
for teachers and students, the aim is usually for their kids to do well
academically. “Parents are not usually concerned about sports. This will
also affect the fitness of students,” he said.
When contacted, a senior corporation official said, “There are no
playgrounds in some schools because there is no availability of land.
Even a lot of private schools don’t have playgrounds.”
To improve facilities, the Corporation is planning to build a 22-yard
cricket pitch at the Nungambakkam boys higher secondary school.