‘Call for norms

POSITIVE MOVE The HRD ministry’s call for norms on the weight of school bags comes as music to the ears of thousands of harried students and concerned parents

NEW DELHI: It was a collective sigh of relief that went up from tens of thousands of school students and their parents when the Union human resource development ministry recently called on India’s states and Union territories to ensure that the weight of school bags should follow set norms.

The ministry’s order had followed a direction of the Madras high court to the Centre to formulate a policy on school bags. The ministry urged the states to either quickly come up with those of their own or follow the ones already put in place by Telangana or Maharashtra models.

Parents and experts welcomed the move, with many of them suggesting a revamp of the school curricula.

Not surprisingly, students themselves came forward with numerous examples of how they had suffered due to the daily practice of carrying the heavy school bags. They also suggested many ideas on how to go ahead. Although not all of these ideas may finally be transformed into reality, what it certainly brings forth is that fact that Gen-y seems to approve the timeliness as well as the positive intent behind the move.

At last, there seems to be all-round concern among stakeholders that action was long overdue because carrying heavy school bags can have a negative impact on the physical well-being of children.

The fact that policymakers are still discussing the need for curbs on the weight of school bags although it was first recommended about 25 years ago by a committee headed by the noted scientist (late) Yash Pal in 1993 reveals the painfully slow manner in which policies are decided and transformed into action.

Expressing dismay over the harm caused to generations of school students, Trisha Sharma, a Class 7 student of Bal Mandir Senior Secondary School, Defence Enclave, said: “There are so many books and copies that my shoulders often pain when I go to school with a heavy bag. There are many subjects wherein oral classes are sufficient. Half of the books of the students should be kept in the school itself to ease their burden. I would like to see the ministry’s directive implemented soon so that we can get relief from our heavy bags.”

Aashika, a Class 7 student of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Rohini expressed the view that “the school administration must provide a locker to each and every student so that they can store their textbooks, copies, stationery and other essential items. She also suggested that schools should consider providing hygienic food so that students don’t have to carry lunchboxes.

Harsh Jha, a Class 6 student of Abhinav Public School, Rohini said, “As our classrooms are usually secured round the clock, it is safe to leave our books there to be used the next day. If such an initiative is launched, we won’t be required to carry heavy bags daily. Another suggestion that can be examined is to have two sets of books, one to be kept in the classroom and another at home.

“I think, students of Class 8 and above should get good quality tablets which can be used to enhance their skills in mathematics and science. It will be yet another step towards digital classroom and ease their burden,” said Sneha, a Class 9 student of Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya Kamdhenu School, Mangol Puri.

Another student, Arpita, a Class 5 student of Decent Public School, Rohini, said, “To reduce the burden of bags divide textbooks into two lots so that they their bags remain thinner and lighter. The first lot will cover half of the curriculum while the second one would cover the next half of the academic session.”

“It will ease our burden tremendously,” Arpita added.

“This was long overdue. My daughter who is in Class I goes to school carrying a bag that weighs around 4 kg. Apart from books, the lunchbox and water bottle also make her bag heavier,” said Rashmi Agarwal, whose daughter studies in a Noida School.

Kalpana Kalra, another parent, said, “My 10-year-old son usually takes 14 books — including notebooks everyday, which makes his bag very heavy. With homework given on a regular basis, children have also to take books back and forth on a daily basis.”

“It is a welcome step but I am a bit apprehensive about its implementation,” added Kalra.