No homework for classes 1 & 2, set weight limit of school bags; HRD ministry directs

The Union human resource development ministry has issued directives regarding homework and weight limit of school bags for each class. The states and union territories are to ensure that there are set norms for the weight of the school bags and also that the kids in classes 1 and 2 are not burdened with any homework.

These norms have not been prescribed in a statement, however, the states have been asked by the ministry to come up with those of their own or follow the ones already in place and put up by the Maharashtra and Telangana models.

Maharashtra's policy is that the weight of a bag should never exceed 10% of a student's body weight.

The Telangana model prescribes that for students in class 1 and 2, the weight of the school bag should not be more than 1.5 kgs. Similarly, for classes 3 and 4, the maximum weight should be 2-3 kgs for those in classes 6 and 7, it should be 4 kgs, for students in classes 8 and 9, 4.5 kgs and for those in class 10, 5 kgs.

These latest directions were issued after a direction of the Madras high court which directed the Centre to formulate a policy on school bags. Following the order of the court, the ministry also formed a panel comprising experts from CBSE, NCERT, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and other bodies to formulate a draft policy in this regard.

The HRD ministry order also stated that the schools should not prescribe any other subjects except Language and Mathematics for classes 1 and 2, Mathematics, EVS and Language for classes 3 to 5.