The new academic session in schools is starting from third week of November, however the government is yet to issue guidelines to educational institutions, particularly private schools, for reducing weight of school bags.
In the last week of August this year, government had constituted a four-member committee to suggest measures to help reduce weight of schoolbags of children. The committee was headed by chairperson Board of School Education (BOSE) Veena Pandita while other members of the committee were former head of department Sociology, University of Kashmir, A G Madhosh, and two retired Principals – Nusrat Andrabi and Abdul Jabbar.
“This was the right time to take a decision on this as new academic session is likely to start in coming weeks. Private schools, as part of their business, have already installed book stalls and are asking parents to purchase books for new session,” said Majid, a parent from Baramulla.
“It won’t serve any purpose if the government didn’t issue guidelines to the schools before the start of new academic session,” he said.
A top source in the department however said the report by the committee was submitted by chairperson BOSE to secretary school education department in last week of October. However there is no further development from the government side on this issue.
The committee in its report has suggested various measures for the students of 1st and 2nd primary students. It has suggested to introduce single book containing chapters of English, Math and Urdu with prescribed syllabus and integrated workbook for doing class work.
“Students should use light weight school bags preferably water proof and its weight should not exceed 1.5 kg,” reads the report.
For students from 3rd to 5th class, the committee has suggested to divide the session into four quarters and syllabus be divided into semesters.
“Students should use quarter wise combined form of books. If combined, it will decrease the volume of books and also reduce weight of schoolbags,” it reads.
For upper primary classes, the committee has suggested to print term wise text books in combined form citing that students will carry combined books in their bags besides combined note books for doing class work on term basis.
“It will definitely reduce weight of the school bag,” reads the report.
In its concluding part, the committee has admitted that it was “cruel” to make students carry such unbearable weight which causes health problems to them.
“There is another perspective of it, present world is time of technology and government needs to keep pace with it,” reads the report.
Secretary school education department Farooq Ahmad Shah said the department is working on the recommendations submitted by the committee. “Guidelines will be issued in coming days,” he informed.
All eyes on Govt for easing school bag burden of students
