National Human Rights and Crime Control Bureau stresses regulating weight of school bags

JAMUGURIHAT: In an era driven by educational advancement and holistic development, one critical concern has managed to slip through the cracks - the excessive weight of school bags borne by our young learners.

Despite the Education Department’s commendable efforts to alleviate this issue with bag weight regulations introduced on November 24, 2020, the unfortunate reality remains that many schools have yet to fully implement these guidelines. The burden of an overweight school bag can be more than just a physical strain on a child’s growing body; it can impact their overall well-being, hinder their learning experience and potentially set the stage for future health problems.

Nishant Thard, the state president of National Human Rights and Crime Control Bureau (NHRCCB), Assam in a statement sent by Mrinmay Kr. Nath, State Media Officer of the organization, said that the initiative of the Education & Health Department to regulate bag weight was a step in the right direction, recognizing the importance of safeguarding the health and development of our future generations. These guidelines were designed not just to reduce the literal load on students’ shoulders, but also to promote a balanced approach to education that allows for mental and physical growth without undue stress.

The policy said there should be no bags in pre-primary. For classes I and II the bag weight range should be between 1.6 kg to 2.2 kg. Likewise, it should be 1.7 kg to 2.5 kg, 2 kg to 3 kg, 2.5 to 4 kg, 2.5 kg to 4.5 kg and 3.5 kg to 5 kg for classes III to V, classes VI and VII, class VIII, classes IX and X and classes XI and XII respectively.

However, it is disheartening to note that some educational institutions are yet to implement these regulations effectively. The state president further said that collaborative efforts of schools, parents, school managing committee and education boards are crucial in tackling this issue head-on. Schools must recognize that their commitment to holistic education extends beyond textbooks and exams; it also involves nurturing healthy minds and bodies. Parents, on their part, should engage in open dialogues with schools to encourage adherence to these regulations and advocate for the well-being of their children.

“By lightening the load of school bags, we can pave the way for a brighter and healthier future for our children,” the NHRCCB president said in the statement.

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