Modi government wants to reduce weight of school bags

The central government has taken several steps to reduce the curriculum load and the weight of school bags for children.

Minister of State (HRD), Upendra Kushwaha, released the following statement - in a written reply to a Lok Sabha question on 22 November:

"The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has not recommended any textbook for early childhood education. It has recommended only two books (Language and Mathematics) for classes I & II and three books for classes III to V (Language, Environmental Studies and Mathematics). The number and size of NCERT's textbooks used by the primary and secondary school students are appropriate to their age. The Government has also launched a platform for showcasing and dissemination of all digital and digitisable resources for its stakeholders in collaboration with the NCERT. Accordingly, the NCERT has made available all their textbooks and other teaching-learning material for free access through its website www.ncert.nic.in, e-pathshala.nic.in and mobile devices," stated the response.

Also Read: Director's post in 13 IIMs lying vacant

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has directed its affiliated schools to ensure that students do not carry school bags till class II. Schools have also been asked to restrict the number of books to be prescribed in classes I-VIII.

In its latest circular dated 12 September, 2016, it has advised schools to take all possible measures to keep the weight of school bag under control.