First-ever Sports and Physical Activity Carnival for primary schools

The Scouts and Sports Division (SSD) under the Department of Education Programmes has successfully launched the first-ever Sports and Physical Activity (SPA) Carnival for primary schools marking a significant step toward fostering children’s holistic development and enhancing their educational journey from an early age.

A total of 15,861 students including 7,850 boys and 8,011 girls from 424 schools participated in the program which was held across the country from September to 1st week of November.

This innovative initiative aimed to inspire a lifelong commitment to physical activity and sports ensuring that children not only enjoy their school experience but also gain benefits in terms of better health, fitness, self-confidence, resilience and interpersonal skills. These attributes are crucial for academic success as well as for personal growth and lifelong achievement.

The carnival was held in a decentralised manner with primary schools grouped into 58 clusters within each Dzongkhag/Thromde based on proximity and logistics. Unlike traditional sports events, the schools were encouraged to organise nonconventional sports and activities that required minimal equipment or infrastructure yet remained enjoyable and beneficial for children ensuring broader participation and engagement. The SSD provided guidelines and a budget of Nu.2.6 million to support these cluster-level events.

The feedback from students, teachers and communities was overwhelmingly positive. The carnival provided students with an opportunity to experience the joy of physical activity, develop essential life skills and foster a lifelong love for sports and fitness. It has proven to be a valuable addition to the school program significantly enhancing students’ health, mental well-being and overall physical and social development. Considering the strategic approach and the positive feedback, the SSD will continue the SPA carnival for primary schools as an annual event ensuring its continued success and positive impact on children’s development and educational journey.