Lesser Burden On Mind And Shoulder: HRD Limits Weight Of School Bags For Kids, No Homework For Class I,II

School going children will now have less burden on their shoulders as the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development has asked states to bring in regulations that will limit the weight of school bags depending on the class in which they study, reported the Financial Express.

The decision is taken with a bid to safeguard the health and physical development of school students, as reported by the Financial Express. The HRD ministry sent a circular to authorities in Education departments of all the states, requesting them to formulate guidelines which will regulate the weight of schoolbags the students carry.

While various states have taken initiative and taken the required steps, a few continue to follow old norms. The Directorate of Education, Lakshadweep Administration released new rules for schools, directing schools in the Union Territory to follow new rules.

“The Ministry of HRD has instructed all the states and Union Territories to formulate guidelines to regulate the teaching of subjects and weight of school bag in accordance with the Government of India’ instructions,”the circular states while also informing schools in the union territory not to assign homework for students of class I and II.

Schools should also not ask their students to bring additional books and other materials. According to the notice, the weight limit for bags class-wise are:

• Class I and II –1.5 kgs
• Class III to V – 2-3 kgs
• Class VI and VII – 4 kgs
• Class VIII and IX – 4.5 kgs
• Class X – 5 Kg

A survey by ASSOCHAM in 2016 found the risk of backaches and even hunchbacks due to heavy school bags. The Haryana government already decided to stop the use of school bags for the primary section. PTI quoted the state Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma saying, “We have decided that students would go to primary schools without bags.”