Reduce weight of school bags: MHRD

MHRD HAS INSTRUCTED STATES TO ASK SCHOOLS NOT TO GIVE ANY KIND OF HOMEWORK TO STUDENTS OF CLASSES I AND II

NEW DELHI: The union government has stepped in to reduce homework for school students and reduce the weight of their school bags. Though the ministry of human resources development has not given a specific direction on the weight of the school bag on its own, it has asked the states to follow the Telangana model which has specific weight demarcations for student at different level, and has asked to formulate rules in their own states.

As per the directive, Class I and Class II students should not carry bags weighing more than 1.5kg. For students of Class III through V, it should not be more than 3kg. Class VI and VII shouldn’t carry bags weighing more than 4kg and Class VIII and IX, 4.5kg. For Class X students, a school bag will not weigh more than 5kg. The union HRD ministry has instructed states to ask schools not to give any kind of homework to students of Classes I and II. Besides, schools should also not prescribe any other subject except language and mathematics for students in Classes I and II, the Press Trust of India reported. The weight of the school bag has been in debate for years, and experts have often opted out that how heavy bags are inhuman for young students.

According to the Lakshadweep circular, the states have been advised to follow the instructions by the HRD ministry. Lakshadweep in its circular has told schools that they should resist from asking students to carry or bring additional books, notes and education materials to classrooms.