Football for Schools (F4S) Initiative Context: The Union Minister of State for Education attended and led a football distribution programme in West Bengal under the Football for Schools (F4S) initiative. About F4S F4S is an international programme introduced in 2019 by Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) in partnership with UNESCO. Objective The initiative seeks to embed football within the school system to expand educational access and foster children’s learning, personal growth, and empowerment through sports. Implementation in India In India, the programme is coordinated by the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) under the Ministry of Education. It is implemented with support from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI). Target Coverage Globally, F4S aims to reach around 700 million children, ensuring that at least half the beneficiaries are girls. India has pledged to extend the programme to approximately 25 million children. Policy Convergence The initiative complements the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and aligns with international commitments such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the WHO’s Global Action Plan on Physical Activity (GAPPA).
