Heavy school bags issue saddles SED

The department is struggling to implement the State government’s directive last year, restricting the weight of school bags 

-    SED battles on multiple fronts 
-    Students carry about 50 lakh tonnes every day
-    State government caps maximum weight in June
-    Maximum weight for Classes I and II - 1.5 kg
-    For Classes III to V - 2 to 3 kg
-    In case of VI to VII, weight shall not be more than 4 kg
-    5 kg is the maximum weight for Class X
-    Direction remains ineffective
-    Even bags by big brands not following ideal weight

Hyderabad: The School Education Department (SED) is battling on multiple fronts to deal with the monstrous school bag problem as schoolchildren in the State are still carrying, on an average, about 50 lakh tonnes every day.

According to SED sources, the State government’s direction capping the maximum weight of school bags was issued in June last year. Basing on the curriculum prescribed under the State syllabus, the direction prescribed the maximum weight for a school bag for Classes I and II as 1.5 kg, for the Classes III to V as 2 to 3 kg. Similarly, in case of VI to VII, the maximum weight shall not be more than 4 kg and 5 kg is the maximum weight for the school bag of a student studying Class X.

However, official sources pointed out that the direction remained ineffective due to multiple reasons. Speaking to The Hans India, a senior official from the SED highlighted the problems coming in the way of implementing the directive. In most of the cases, it is the students and parents who purchase school bags. There is no uniformity followed like in case of a prescribed school dress.

And, the SED officials found out that the weight of a school bag (without books) is about 1 to 1.5 kg as against an ideal weight of not more than about 600 grams. “Even the bags manufactured by big brands are not following the ideal weight. There are also other problems like lack of broad padded straps for symmetrical distribution of weight and the like. There is no rule like banning the sale and usage of the plastic bags violating the prescribed norms.  This leaves a big gap as students’ purchase the bags of their choice and this in turn resulting in direction remained in effect,” he added.

The average time frame of carrying the school bags by the students range from 30 minutes to three hours, depending on the distance between the school and home, and the mode of the transport the student uses. As the department is finding it difficult to handle the issue, now, it wants all schools in the State to arrange cupboards so that the students would not carry the books, back and forth from the home to school. “Schools were already asked to do away with the homework for the primary courses. Whatever they have to do, it should be done in the school under the supervision of the teachers,” the official said.   

This issue was one among the 30 issues on the agenda of the department. It will be discussed during an upcoming review meeting with the Mandal Education Officers (MEOs), District Education Officers (DEOs) and other officials. Depending on the feedback, the SED will submit a report to the State government to appropriate measures, including specifying the norms for the manufacturing school bags.