PANAJI
The Directorate of Education (DoE) has reminded schools that school bags should not weigh more than 10 percent of a child’s body weight, as per a rule in place since a 2017 circular.
This reminder comes after it was noticed that many schools are not following this rule, and students are still carrying heavy bags.
Speaking to The Goan, an official said that schools have already been told to reuse old textbooks from past students for the current batch.
“The new books may be kept at home by students and used for revision purposes. This will reduce the burden of carrying heavy bags. The old books should be kept in classrooms/ schools and circulated among current students. Teaching can continue without the children feeling weighed down,” the official added.
The DoE has also reminded schools not to ask students to carry extra books unless it is absolutely necessary.
The 2017 guidelines had warned of action if schools do not follow these rules. Quoting a letter from a member of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), New Delhi, the circular listed recommendations such as reducing the use of reference books, ensuring students carry books strictly as per their timetable, and encouraging safe, ergonomic ways of carrying school bags.
Schools have also been advised to provide lockers so that students can store their books and reduce the weight they carry.
For pre-primary children, the department has repeated that no books should be carried to school and that teaching should be done through play.
