Check on school bag weights soon

Hyderabad: In a move which could bring a major relief to school students in Telangana, the State government is planning to issue guidelines on the weight of school bags soon.
The government has already sought details from the School Education Department and is formulating guidelines to this effect.
“The government has asked the department about the guidelines. We have sent our report on the same and an order will soon be issued by the State government,” said G. Kishan, Commissioner and Director of School Education.
In the absence of guidelines, students in the State are forced to carry heavy bags every day. On an average, a school student in the State carries a bag weighing anywhere between six kg and eight kg daily.

Heavy load

A survey by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India last year revealed that 68 per cent of children aged between seven and 13 years were at the risk of backache and hunchback due to heavy school bags. It was also found that 88 per cent of children were carrying more than 45 per cent of their weight on their shoulder.
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 or RTE Act states that children should not carry a bag which is more than 10 per cent of their body’s weight. Further it states that primary school students should not carry bags to school.
“There is an urgent need for guidelines on weight of school bags. I keep checking my children’s bags so that they do not carry all books. From the school end, teachers should only allow books required for that day,” said N Muralidhar, a parent.
School managements and teachers blame students and their parents for heavy bags. But from this academic year, the managements intend to change things.

Onus on parents

“Students will be allowed to carry books as per the timetable. This apart, managements will give orientation to parents and also frequently check bags so that students do not carry unnecessary books,” said Sreenivas Reddy, president, Telangana Recognized Schools Managements Association.

What CBSE guidelines say

• Schools should design weekly timetable so that minimum books are required on each day.
• Random check of bags to ensure proper weight of bags.
• Schools should not prescribe too many additional textbooks.
• No homework for Class I, II students; they do not need to carry bags