RU to open up new sports horizon in N-region

After a long wait, Rajshahi University (RU) has finally got a full-fledged sports-related academic curriculum, with the opening of its Physical Education and Sports Sciences (PESS) department from the 2015–16 academic session with seven part-time teachers and 30 students. This promises to open up a new horizon in the sports sector of the northern part of the country, sources said.
The department currently offers a four-year Bachelor’s degree course.
Earlier, the RU Physical Exercise Department (PED), which has been conducting all sporting activities on the campus since its inception in 1957, lacked any academic status.
It had started with a staff of only four members. Now, there are 24 physical instructors at the Physical Exercise Department (PED) and 28 other members of office staff.
But it had no academic function, with its role restricted to organising different inter-department and inter-hall annual sports competitions and other games at the university.
Sources said a big stadium, having a seating capacity of 3,900, was built at a cost of Tk. 2 crore in 1973.
There is a standard stadium in the RU with a capacity of 22,000. There are also two sprawling grounds: the Habibur Rahman ground and the Jubbery ground.
RU students play and practice there on a daily basis.
There is a cricket field within the stadium, having four practice pitches, a football ground, two volleyball courts, two handball grounds, and a 400 metre-track.
There are two gymnasiums—the Central Gymnasium for boys and a women’s gymnasium.
However, the university stadium is in a sorry state at present. Prof. Md. Habibur Rahman, chairperson of the Physical Education and Sports Sciences (PESS) Department, said the new wing had been opened to meet the demands of the era.
“There are lots of job opportunities for sports students.
 Many colleges have been offering BPED and graduation degrees. The government is also considering introducing this subject in schools,” he said.
The graduates of the department would be eligible to become teachers or game instructors at the university and in colleges, or coaches and trainers for various clubs.

RU to open up new sports horizon in N-region

After a long wait, Rajshahi University (RU) has finally got a full-fledged sports-related academic curriculum, with the opening of its Physical Education and Sports Sciences (PESS) department from the 201516 academic session with seven part-time teachers and 30 students. This promises to open up a new horizon in the sports sector of the northern part of the country, sources said. The department currently offers a four-year Bachelors degree course. Earlier, the RU Physical Exercise Department (PED), which has been conducting all sporting activities on the campus since its inception in 1957, lacked any academic status. It had started with a staff of only four members. Now, there are 24 physical instructors at the Physical Exercise Department (PED) and 28 other members of office staff. But it had no academic function, with its role restricted to organising different inter-department and inter-hall annual sports competitions and other games at the university. Sources said a big stadium, having a seating capacity of 3,900, was built at a cost of Tk. 2 crore in 1973. There is a standard stadium in the RU with a capacity of 22,000. There are also two sprawling grounds: the Habibur Rahman ground and the Jubbery ground. RU students play and practice there on a daily basis. There is a cricket field within the stadium, having four practice pitches, a football ground, two volleyball courts, two handball grounds, and a 400 metre-track. There are two gymnasiumsthe Central Gymnasium for boys and a womens gymnasium. However, the university stadium is in a sorry state at present. Prof. Md. Habibur Rahman, chairperson of the Physical Education and Sports Sciences (PESS) Department, said the new wing had been opened to meet the demands of the era. There are lots of job opportunities for sports students. Many colleges have been offering BPED and graduation degrees. The government is also considering introducing this subject in schools, he said. The graduates of the department would be eligible to become teachers or game instructors at the university and in colleges, or coaches and trainers for various clubs.