In a welcome change, the union government has decided to reduce homework for school students as also the weight of their school bags.
Though the ministry hasn’t given a specific direction on the weight of the school bag, it has asked the states to follow the Telangana model which has specific weight demarcations for student at different levels, and has asked them to formulate rules on their own.
As per the latest directive, Class 1 and 2 students should have a bag not more than 1.5kgs in weight. Class 3 to 5, it should not be more than 3kg. Class 6 and 7 – 4kg, class 8 and 9 – 4.5kg and class 10 students – 5kg.
The HRD ministry has also instructed states to ask schools not to give any homework to class 1 and 2 students and only languages and mathematics (no other subject) can be taught to them.
For Classes 3 to 5, schools will teach only environmental science (EVS), mathematics and languages as prescribed by NCERT.
The letter sent to the states asks them to “formulate guidelines to regulate the teaching of subjects and of schoolbags in accordance with government of India instructions”. Following the communication, some states have already issued directives to their respective education departments. Others like Delhi say they have not received the MHRD’s letter yet.
The Centre has asked states, union territories and education boards to ensure that students do not bring additional books and extra material.
The ill-effects of heavy schoolbags may not be evident in the near future but the long term impact on the nervous system can be huge.
Dr Ramneek Mahajan, director, orthopaedics and joint replacement, Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Delhi, said heavy schoolbags can cause lasting damage like spinal deformities as children’s skeletal frames are not fully formed.
“The excess weight puts undue stress on the muscles, ligaments and discs and damages them. Children develop a forward head posture as they are swinging forward at the hip to compensate for the heavy weight. In the long term, they are developing imbalances that can affect the nervous system,” he said.