Initiating a plan to reduce the weight of school bags, the Delhi government has asked all schools to frame a time table so that children don’t have to carry too many books every day.
The Directorate of Education (DOE) has sent a seven-point guideline to principals of government and private schools for reducing the weight of school bags.
Schools will also have to ensure co-curricular activities along with other daily academic periods.
“It has been observed that children are carrying very heavy bags to school, which is affecting their health adversely. All heads are instructed to ensure that the school bags of the children are not heavy and should monitor it on regular basis,” the directorate said.
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Schools have to sensitise teachers and parents of the potential problems of heavy school bags and make them aware of the related health issues, it said.
Schools have to teach correct lifting and carrying techniques to kids as part of their health education programmes. “Parents should be requested to buy a child friendly bag which is comfortable to use and light in weight,” the department said.
{{/usCountry}}Schools have to teach correct lifting and carrying techniques to kids as part of their health education programmes. “Parents should be requested to buy a child friendly bag which is comfortable to use and light in weight,” the department said.
{{/usCountry}}Schools will have to discourage students from bringing reference books and other books to school especially in senior classes.
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“Parents should remind and guide their children to pack the school bag daily accordingly to the time table and bring only the prescribed books and discourage their ward from carrying unnecessary items to the school,” the guidelines said.
The CBSE had also asked schools in April this year to consider ways to reduce the burden of heavy bags carried by students.