Chennai: Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin has advised school teachers not to borrow physical education (PE) classes and instead ensure proper integration of sports within the academic schedule.

Speaking at a felicitation ceremony held at the Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai, Udhayanidhi distributed certificates of appreciation to 5,788 students who had won medals at international, national, and state-level sports competitions during the 2024-25 academic year.

Emphasising the importance of sports in holistic education, he said, “Learning is not confined to textbooks. Sports teach values like cooperation, teamwork, trust, friendship, planning, and execution. These are essential life skills.”

He underlined that students must balance both academics and sports, adding, “Ambition and hard work are key. Success alone doesn't make history—perseverance does. The government will support you in every possible way.”

Urging teachers not to fund physical education classes out of their own pockets, Udhayanidhi said, “If needed, allocate time for PE classes even during science and mathematics periods.”