As of today, students in government-run primary schools in Odisha’s Ganjam district no longer need to carry bags on Saturdays. The objective: to allow students to learn in a stress-free environment.
But Odisha is not the only Indian state to welcome this initiative.
Just last month, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced ‘No-Bag Day’ on Saturdays for students of government schools across the state.
A few days before that, Karnataka Education Minister S Suresh Kumar maintained that the state government will implement ‘No-bag Day’ from the coming academic year.
In 2019, the education department of Manipur enforced a ‘No Bag day’ on all working Saturdays for students of Classes 1 to 8, including government, government-aided, and private schools in a bid to promote other skills apart from textbooks.
In the last two years, governments across Chandigarh, Andra Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh among other states also announced the initiative in varying degrees after considering the long term physical and mental effects of carrying heavy school bags every day by young students.
Uttar Pradesh was among the first to introduce the initiative way back in 2017.
The concept was brought in by the government as part of the ‘Happiness Curriculum’, aimed at helping children bust stress and engage in extra-curricular activities for their physical and mental happiness. Children are engaged in games, yoga, painting and other non-academic activities.
The idea has been welcomed by many, parents and educators alike who believe that given the pressure endured by students today, it is good for the child to be allowed to be free of stress at least once a week. The policy also brings into light much-needed, stress-busting activities for student and activities like arts, crafts and exercises are introduced.
Back home in Goa, there have been many attempts made in the past to lessen the burden for children.
The state government had, in fact, constituted a committee to study the weight of the school bag. Sadly, for tender shoulders, though the committee gave its recommendations, not much has changed for our little ones. On the contrary, some schools do not even follow the timetable with many teachers insisting on students bringing all textbooks to class everyday making the average weight of schoolbags go up to as much as 7 kgs although research and the suggests that it should not exceed 10% of body weight.
In this scenario, other a handful of private schools that have implemented the initiative in the state, the Goa government and Education Department is yet to issue an order on making no-bag day mandatory once a week. In view of all this, can the state government address this problem at the earliest?
GOLDEN RULE
Children’s School Bags (Limitation on Weight), Bill of 2006 states that the weight of a school bag must not exceed more than 10% of the child’s bodyweight. Students must also be taught how to pack bags so heavy loads can be kept close to the body.
Advantages
The child is allowed to be free of stress at least once in a week
Helps the child to relax and play
Extra-curricular activities can be cultivated
Better teacher-student relationship and student-student relationship could be achieved
Weight of school bags
for students
Classes I and II: Not exceed 1.5 kg
Classes III to V: 2 kg to 3 kg
Classes VI and VII: Not more than 4 kg
Classes VIII and IX: Not above 4.5 kg
Class X: Not above 5 kg
We are looking at a few options, we are learning from other states how this whole concept is being implemented. This policy cannot be established in one day, we have to figure out what the student will be doing in the days they are not carrying bags. Do we make lockers in the schools for their books. After looking into all these aspects, maybe by the next academic year we might be able to implement this.
” Vandana Rao, director of education
When children do not have to carry any books to school, they will automatically feel less burdened, so I feel this is a good idea. They don’t have to carry a load all the way up to the first floor or second floor. I feel other activities influencing practical learning is very good idea and should be implemented in schools. Not just the schools of the little ones but of the higher levels as well because I notice the workload of the students today. It will certainly help the students out.
” Maria Carvalho, teacher,
Being the principal of the school, I have made sure that everyday there is an activity to relieve the student off the stress. We have activities like arts and craft, music that is being done along with the learning of subjects. These are a part of the syllabus, this makes sure the child is burdened with only academics. I don’t believe in one day being stress-free, it should be felt everyday. The student also doesn’t have to bring a lot of books as most of the books are kept in the school.
” Madhavi Kamat, principal, Little Penguins School, Panaji
