Delhi govt: They’re kids, not mules

Reiterating the rules for capping the weight of bags for classes 1-10, Delhi’s Directorate of Education (DoE) has asked heads of government schools in the capital to ensure that bags for students in Class 1 and 2 should not be above 1.5kg.

The DoE issued a circular on Monday, citing its order of last year, and asked the schools to fix the bag weights for classes 3 to 5 (two-three kg), classes 6-7 (four kg), Classes 8-9 (4.5 kg), and Class 10 (five kg). It also asked the schools not to assign any homework to Class 1 and 2 kids. It further asked schools to inform the students in advance about the books and notebooks to be brought to the school on a particular day.

Last year, following the Centre’s order to ensure no homework for students of Classes 1 and 2 and the guidelines for capping the weight of school bags for classes 1-10, the

Delhi DoE had issued a circular to reduce the weight of school bags citing health hazard for the students. The guidelines were again “reiterated”, Monday’s order said.

The DoE directed schools to ensure strict implementation of guidelines on reducing the weight of school bags. The DoE also advised schools to provide safe drinking water so students can avoid carrying of drinking water bottles from their home. —

• The government guidelines to reduce the weight of school bags must be complied by all heads of government, government-aided and unaided recognised schools under the DoE

• The load of the school bag is increased by bringing textbooks, guides, homework and classwork notebooks, rough work notebooks, water bottles, lunch box, and sometimes by the weight of the bag itself

• Three textbooks (of Hindi, English and Mathematics) have been prescribed for Classes 1 and 2. There shall no homework for these classes

• As per the curriculum, six textbooks have been prescribed for classes 6 to 10 — three textbooks for three languages and one for Maths, Science and Social Studies each

• There shall be one notebook for each subject for exercises, projects, unit test, experiments, among others, which the students need to bring as per timetable

• Students should not be asked to bring additional books, extra materials to the school

The heavy school bag has a severe, adverse physical affect on the growing children which can cause damage to their vertebral column and knees. The children have to climb the stairs with heavy school bags which further aggravates the problem. It also causes anxiety in them Government circular