Chd for 10% schoolbag weight cap but juniors still burdened

Chandigarh: The UT education department has directed all schools to ensure that no student carries a school bag weighing more than 10% of his or her body weight, reiterating norms laid down under the School Bag Policy, 2020. At the same time, random checks across city schools indicate that several children, particularly in junior and middle classes, are still carrying loads well beyond the prescribed limit.In a circular dated Feb 26, the district education officer instructed all govt, govt-aided and private recognised schools in Chandigarh to strictly comply with the 10% rule. The circular clearly states that the weight of the school bag "shall not exceed one-tenth (10%) of the body weight of the child" and directs schools to submit a compliance report within seven days.
The directive also mandates that schools use only prescribed textbooks as per the approved syllabus and not make additional reference books, guides or workbooks compulsory. Institutions have been asked to rationalise time-tables so students carry only the required books for the day, constitute a school bag monitoring committee headed by the head of school, conduct fortnightly random inspections of bag weight and maintain records.However, instances observed during random weighing of bags suggest that implementation remains uneven.In one case, a Class IV boy weighing 35kg was carrying a 5.6kg bag, against the permissible 3.5kg. An 11-year-old Class VI student weighing 43kg was found climbing to her third-floor classroom daily with nearly 7kg in her bag. A 14-year-old Class VIII girl weighing 49kg carried a 7.6kg bag, while a Class X student weighing 59 kg routinely carried about 7kg.Teachers point out that while older students may carry heavier bags in absolute terms, younger children are more affected proportionately, as the load constitutes a larger share of their body weight.As per the 2020 guidelines, classes I and II should carry between 1.6kg and 2.2kg; classes III to V between 1.7kg and 2.5kg; classes VI and VII between 2kg and 3kg; Class VIII between 2.5kg and 4kg; classes IX and X up to 4.5kg; and classes XI and XII up to 5kg. In several of the observed instances, students exceeded these ranges.Parents say the issue is both physical and practical. Neha Khatri, a parent from Sector 18, said children often sling bags on one shoulder and rush up staircases, increasing the risk of falls.Gaurav Bansal, a parent from Sector 21, said textbook and notebook design should be revisited. "Boards should split textbooks into two parts and notebooks should not exceed 50 pages," he said.Lt Col (retd) Rattanbir Singh, former principal of a private school in Sector 26, said additional items such as sports kits and large one-litre steel water bottles add avoidable weight. He suggested that lighter 500 ml bottles could significantly reduce daily load.Educationists indicate that while monitoring committees and compliance reports are part of the enforcement framework, sustained attention to time-table planning, rationalisation of prescribed material and provision of locker facilities will be key to ensuring that the 10% norm translates into lighter school bags, especially for students in junior and middle classes.A weighty problem-- Random checks show many students — especially in junior and middle classes — carrying bags well above the 10% body-weight limit --Examples include a Class IV boy with a 5.6kg bag against an allowed 3.5kg, and a Class VIII girl carrying 7.6kg against a 4kg upper range --Students often rush up stairs with heavy bags slung on one shoulder, increasing risk of falls, parents say --Extra items such as sports kits and large one-litre steel bottles add significant avoidable weight --In several instances, actual bag weights exceeded the ranges recommended in the 2020 School Bag Policy Suggested solutions -- Rationalise time-tables so students bring only the books needed for the day -- Use only prescribed textbooks; avoid making guides, reference books or extra workbooks compulsory -- Split textbooks into two parts and limit notebook size to 50 pages, parents suggest -- Encourage lighter alternatives such as 500ml water bottles instead of heavier one-litre steel bottles -- Strengthen school bag monitoring committees, conduct regular fortnightly checks and maintain records -- Provide locker facilities to reduce daily bag load, educationists recommend