Bhubaneswar: Considering heavy bags having an adverse impact on the health of school students, the state government has issued guidelines asking all schools to follow it, sources said Sunday.
The Orissa Primary Education Programme Authority (OPEPA) has asked all government and private primary schools in the state to ensure that weight of school bags is less than 10 per cent of the total weight of the student.
All schools have also been directed to frame a timetable in such a manner that children are not forced to carry too many books and copies every day.
As per the guidelines, teachers should remind and guide the children to pack school bags according to the daily timetable and bring only the prescribed books.
Schools will also have to discourage students from bringing unnecessary books to school. Teachers must ensure and issue necessary instructions to the students so that they can complete their homework in schools itself. Arrangements should also be made to keep the homework note books in the classroom, the guidelines said.
Schools should also discourage students from carrying unnecessary items like toys to the school.
They must sensitise parents to buy a child friendly bag which is comfortable to use and light in weight, the guideline states.
In April this year, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had also asked schools to consider ways to reduce the burden of heavy bags carried by students.
According to a survey, a majority of school children below 10 years of age have mild muscle pain while 75 per cent of those below 12 years of age were found to be falling ill due to heavy bags.
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