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Comment by Sakshi (Moderator) on September 25, 2016 at 11:18pm

IndiaToday.in  New Delhi,

No school bags, homework for classes I and II, directs CBSE

There should not be any homework assigned to students of classes I-II and they need not bring their school bag, says CBSE

Unburdening the burden

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In a move to reduce the pressure from students, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has directed its schools not to give any homework to Class I and II students and they should ensure that students should not bring school bags.

"Young children whose spine is at a crucial stage of growth are the most susceptible ones to hazards such as back pain, muscle pain, shoulder pain, fatigue and in extreme cases the distortion of spinal cord or shoulders that may most plausibly be attributed to heavy school bags," the circular said.

In the circular, CBSE Director KK Choudhury (Academic, Research, Training and Innovation) said, "Heavier school bags are known to have adverse effects on health of growing children and if such bags are used for a prolonged period, the impact may be irreversible. Young children whose spine is at a crucial stage of growth, are the most susceptible ones to hazards such as back pain, muscle pain, shoulder pain, fatigue and in extreme cases, vulnerable to distortion of spinal cord or shoulders."

What can schools do?

• Ask students to abide strictly by the timetable and relate the adverse effects of fatigue caused due to heavy bags on their day to day performance in class

• Encourage students to repack their bags on daily basis 

• To avoid making students carry unnecessary articles, textbooks, workbooks that are not needed

• Check school bags randomly to ensure the proper weight of school bags

• There should not be any homework assigned to students of classes I-II and they need not bring their school bag.

(Read: 'I told my father not spend money on my birthday and instead send i...)

What teachers can do?

• Use alternative methods of teaching like the ones based on ICT to alleviate the dependency on textbooks

• Make pairs of children and these pairs may be allowed to share textbooks.

What parents can do?

• Put the bag tightly to the child's back, rather than hanging off his/her shoulders

• Children are often in the habit of storing things in their school bags, therefore regular cleaning of the school bag is essential

In addition to all the above mentioned measures, schools may take any other possible measure leading to reduction of the weight of school bag as they deem fit.