New Delhi: If Union human resource development ministry has its way, bulky school bags may soon become a thing of the past. The government is working on fresh norms for CBSE schools to reduce the burden of bags on students.
“I am going to reduce the weight of school bags. We are preparing norms for CBSE schools that bundles of books and notebooks do not have to be needlessly carried,” Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar said on Wednesday.
There is no restriction or guideline on the weight of schoolbags across the country. However, sources stated that the CBSE has advised its schools that students up to Class II should not bring school bags and has also tried to restrict the number of books carried till Class VIII. It is learnt that the HRD ministry is looking at these aspects to make the norms more effective and comprehensive.
The minister stated that he also plans to make changes to project work assigned to schoolchildren. He said it was parents who usually have to pitch in to complete the projects assigned to their wards. Referring to an instance in his family, Mr Javadekar said he once saw his granddaughter working on project work with the help of her mother. He was told that without the assistance of adults, the teacher would not mark a “star” for the assignment. “But the real education is where the child learns even if he makes a mistake. The seniors can guide though,” he said.
