The Union Education Ministry has issued a new set of guidelines regarding the weight of school bags and homework for students.
The School Bag Policy, 2020, is formulated in pursuance of the National Education Policy 2020 that highlights the need for initiatives such as bagless day, vocational courses, and vocational crafts for the holistic development of children.
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As per the new policy, schools are recommended to follow the universally accepted ratio of weight for school bags as 10 percent of the bodyweight of the student across Classes I to X.
Further, boards and schools are recommended to consider the criterion of weight while selecting textbooks for children."Weight of each textbook may be printed on the textbook by the publishers, along with the Grams per Square Meter (GSM)," stated the policy.
"Children with Special Needs (CWSN) can be provided a double set of textbooks, through book banks in schools," it added.
The total study time that is expected from students in both face-to-face and self-study or homework needs to be accounted for while planning the syllabus or course of study for students.
As per the new policy, the education ministry has said that no homework be given up to Class II and a maximum of two hours a week from Classes III-V.
For Classes VI to VIII, a maximum of one hour a day, about five to six hours a week is recommended.
For secondary and higher secondary classes homework should be allocated for a maximum of two hours a day, about 10 to 12 hours a week.
As per the National Education Policy 2020, concerted efforts, through suitable changes in curriculum and pedagogy, will be made by NCERT, SCERTs, schools, and educators to significantly reduce the weight of school bags and textbooks.