Mumbai, July 3: Children carry very heavy schoolbags in comparison to their age and over 58 per cent of students below 10 years of age are suffering from orthopaedic ailments, said a Maharashtra government-appointed committee report submitted to the Bombay High Court Friday.
A division bench of Justices VM Kanade and BP Colabawala was informed that the 12-page report has been accepted by the government and a decision will be soon taken on implementation of its recommendations.
After perusing the report, the court remarked sardonically: “Soon children will have to carry trolley bags as the backpacks they carry at present is not enough.”
“Every day, all subjects are taken. Hence, a student has to carry all the textbooks and notebooks. There has to be a change in the time table,” said Justice Colabawala, who has school-going children.
The court has asked the government to file its reply by July 23 and also wanted to know by when it is likely to implement the suggestions made by the committee in its report.
The court suggested the government consider directing schools to set up lockers where children can keep their textbooks instead of carrying them daily.
Justice Kanade, however, immediately observed that children would then be unable to study at home.
“So much homework is given that students need the books at home also. If students start keeping their books in schools, hen parents will have to buy two sets – one for home and one for school,” the court said.
The committee has recommended that one book be used for three months for each subject and the textbook weight be reduced by using lighter paper and no hardcover.
Further, it also suggested use of e-classroom, audio- visual technology and other technological means for teaching.
The bench, after going through the report, said, “We find the suggestions are quiet reasonable but for this year we assume that it would not be possible to implement them.” PTI
