Reduce weight of school bags, Edu Dept tells DEOs

Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, May 3

Taking note of the fact that overweight school bags are taking a toll on the physical and psychological health of schoolchildren, the Department of School Education has restricted the weight of the school bags class-wise and the maximum weight could not be over 5 kg.

According to a letter received by all district education offficers (DEOs) on Friday, Secretary, Department of School Education, issued directions that weight of school bags of Class 1 and II students should not exceed 1.5 kg. The allowed weight of school bags for Class III to V is 2-3kg, for Classes VI to VII is 4 kg, for Classes VIII to IX is 4.5 kg and for Class X is 5 kg.

It is a common practice in almost all schools, particularly in private schools, that students of Class I and V carry bags weighing over 8 kg. While these students are more fear-stricken of their teachers, so they carry along all books and copies to schools on a daily basis. However, in case of Class IX and X, students generally carry bags of reduced weight, weighing around 4 kg to 5 kg.

It is visible that during the opening and closing time many small students are unable to carry the load of their bags due to which these are being lifted by their parents.

Speaking to parents, many of them say that the heavy bags were resulting in serious spine-related problems among children as they complain of backache at such young age.

The Secretary has directed all DEOs to ensure implementation of the guidelines regarding school bags in all government, government-aided and private schools in the state.

Moreover, the schools had been asked to aware students, their parents and teachers during the morning assembly in schools about the adverse impacts of carrying heavy bags on students’ health.

The Secretary has also asked all schools to arrange almirahs and benches with boxes in schools so that students could keep their daily textbooks in the school.

The DEOs have been told to ask the schools to inspire students to bring books as per their timetable and not to carry extra books. Instruct them to follow the timetable strictly and schools should make changes in the timetable to reduce the weight of bags.

Besides, the parents should also be asked to purchase lightweight bags for their children.

Instructions

• According to a letter received by all district education offficers (DEOs) on Friday, Secretary, Department of School Education, issued directions that weight of school bags of Class 1 and II students should not exceed 1.5 kg. The allowed weight of school bags for Class III to V is 2-3kg, for Classes VI to VII is 4 kg, for Classes VIII to IX is 4.5 kg and for Class X is 5 kg.
• It is a common practice in almost all schools, particularly in private schools, that students of Class I and V carry bags weighing over 8 kg. While these students are more fear-stricken of their teachers, so they carry along all books and copies to schools on a daily basis. However, in case of Class IX and X, students generally carry bags of reduced weight, weighing around 4 kg to 5 kg.