Physical Education gets a big boost in Karnataka

Bengaluru: The Department of School Education and Literacy, Government of Karnataka, in partnership with the British Council, UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural exchange, and the Premier League, has successfully concluded the “Premier League Primary Stars in India” training programme for physical education teachers in Karnataka.

This collaboration aims to integrate sport into education, enhancing learning experiences and equipping students with essential life skills.

The Operational Alliance Agreement (OAA) between the Government of Karnataka and the British Council was signed in October 2024. Over the course of the following five months, more than 60 government school Physical Education teachers from across the state have received 12 days of face-to-face training, including high quality coaching techniques, educational resources and hands-on learning experience.

In the first phase of the training, teachers gained knowledge and practised their skills in delivering physical education sessions to their learners. Latter phases of the programme focused on strengthening teachers’ confidence and on developing their skills to share the Premier League Primary Stars methods and approaches with their peers, enhancing scalability of the training.

Having already been implemented recently in Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Goa, and Odisha, Premier League Primary Stars has now extended its further reach to Karnataka, further strengthening its impact across India.

In the first phase of the programme in Karnataka, the training focused on equipping government school teachers with methodologies to incorporate sport, particularly football, into their teaching frameworks.

The final phase of the training is being held from 1 to 4 April 2025.

On the occasion of closing of the Premier League Primary Stars programme in Karnataka, Karnataka Minister for School Education and Literacy, Madhu Bangarappa, said, “I am delighted to be part of the valedictory function of Premier League Primary Stars, a remarkable partnership between the British Council and the Karnataka Department of School Education and Literacy. I extend my congratulations to the British Council, Premier League, and the dedicated teachers who have successfully completed their training. It is a matter of pride that Physical Education teachers are now equipped with the skills to promote leadership, teamwork, and gender equality among students. This aligns with the Government of Karnataka’s vision of creating Quality, Equality and Accessibility in school education. I encourage the Physical Education Teacher Leaders to apply the knowledge gained through this programme to create a lasting impact in our schools across all the districts of Karnataka.”

Janaka Pushpanathan, Director, South India, British Council, said, “We are delighted to be delivering on our statewide overarching Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Karnataka and further strengthening our collaboration with the Department of School Education to implement the Premier League Primary Stars programme. This initiative marks a key milestone in our partnership with the Premier League to drive positive change in schools and communities worldwide. By harnessing the power of sport, we aim to enhance physical education, instill essential life skills, and strengthen core competencies among young learners, creating a lasting impact across the state.”

Nick Perchard, Director of Community at the Premier League, said, “The Premier League is committed to sharing its success by helping to develop the game and communities around the world. Working in partnership with the British Council and other local organisations, we are determined that the positive social impact of Premier League football is felt well beyond the game itself, supporting community leaders to positively impact individuals who need us most.”

Since 2007, the Premier League and British Council have worked together to develop the skills of more than 40,000 football coaches, referees, and educators, working with more than 2.1 million children and young people in 29 countries.

In India, the partnership activities have supported over 7,300 educators and coaches across 18 states, benefiting more than 124,000 students. Following Delhi, Goa, Odisha and Tamil Nadu, Karnataka becomes the fifth state in India where Premier Primary Stars programme has been implemented.