MP govt suggests education reforms, Asks to reduce weight of school bags
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Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh government is taking steps to make life easier for school children and has suggested guidelines. On top of the list is a suggestion to not give homework to students up to class 2.
Children in classes 9-12 can be given homework for a maximum of two hours a day. However, younger students should not be given more than two hours of homework per week.
The School Education Department has also asked all government, non-government and government-aided schools to ensure that school bags are not heavy. For students in classes 1 and 2, the bag should weigh between 1.6-2.2 kg. For classes 3-5, the bags can weigh 1.7-3 kg. For classes 6-7, the weight can be 2.5. Students in class 8 can carry a bag weighing up to 4kg. For classes 9-10, the weight can go up to 4.5 kg.
Experts have repeatedly said that the weight of the school bag adds pressure to children's shoulders and affects their spine health. According to studies, the weight of a school bag should be less than 10% of the child's body weight. Anything more than that will lead to the natural curve of the spine being distorted. Students are forced to roll their shoulders and develop a more rounded upper back.
The new guidelines are in line with the national Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Ministry of Education's School Education and Literacy Department's School Bag Policy 2020.