Chandigarh Education Department Reiterates Strict 10% Body Weight Limit for School Bags
The UT education department in Chandigarh has issued a firm directive to all schools, mandating that no student should carry a school bag weighing more than 10% of their body weight. This move reinforces the norms established under the School Bag Policy of 2020, aiming to address long-standing concerns over the physical burden on young learners.
Circular Demands Immediate Compliance and Reporting
In a circular dated February 26, the district education officer instructed all government, government-aided, and private recognized schools in Chandigarh to strictly adhere to the 10% rule. The circular explicitly states that the weight of the school bag "shall not exceed one-tenth (10%) of the body weight of the child" and requires schools to submit a compliance report within seven days.
The directive also emphasizes that schools must use only prescribed textbooks as per the approved syllabus and avoid making additional reference books, guides, or workbooks compulsory. Institutions are urged to rationalize time-tables so students carry only the necessary books for each day, establish a school bag monitoring committee headed by the principal, conduct fortnightly random inspections of bag weight, and maintain detailed records.
Random Checks Reveal Widespread Non-Compliance
Despite these guidelines, random checks across city schools indicate that many children, particularly in junior and middle classes, continue to carry loads well beyond the prescribed limit. Observations highlight several concerning instances:
- A Class IV boy weighing 35kg was found with a 5.6kg bag, significantly exceeding the permissible 3.5kg.
- An 11-year-old Class VI student weighing 43kg was seen climbing to her third-floor classroom daily with nearly 7kg in her bag.
- A 14-year-old Class VIII girl weighing 49kg carried a 7.6kg bag, while a Class X student weighing 59kg routinely carried about 7kg.
Teachers note that while older students may carry heavier bags in absolute terms, younger children are disproportionately affected as the load constitutes a larger share of their body weight.
2020 Guidelines and Parental Concerns
According to the 2020 School Bag Policy guidelines, the recommended weight ranges are:
- Classes I and II: 1.6kg to 2.2kg
- Classes III to V: 1.7kg to 2.5kg
- Classes VI and VII: 2kg to 3kg
- Class VIII: 2.5kg to 4kg
- Classes IX and X: up to 4.5kg
- Classes XI and XII: up to 5kg
In many observed cases, students exceeded these ranges, raising alarms among parents and educators. Parents express concerns that the issue is both physical and practical. Neha Khatri, a parent from Sector 18, pointed out that children often sling bags on one shoulder and rush up staircases, increasing the risk of falls. Gaurav Bansal, a parent from Sector 21, suggested that textbook and notebook designs should be revisited, proposing that boards split textbooks into two parts and limit notebooks to 50 pages.
Additional Factors and Expert Recommendations
Lt Col (retd) Rattanbir Singh, former principal of a private school in Sector 26, highlighted that extra items such as sports kits and large one-litre steel water bottles add avoidable weight. He recommended using lighter 500ml bottles to significantly reduce daily load.
Educationists stress that while monitoring committees and compliance reports are essential, sustained attention to time-table planning, rationalization of prescribed materials, and provision of locker facilities will be crucial to ensuring the 10% norm translates into lighter school bags, especially for students in junior and middle classes.
Key Solutions Proposed
To address this weighty problem, several solutions have been suggested:
- Rationalize Time-Tables: Ensure students bring only the books needed for the day.
- Limit Materials: Use only prescribed textbooks and avoid compulsory guides or workbooks.
- Redesign Educational Materials: Split textbooks into parts and limit notebook sizes.
- Promote Lighter Alternatives: Encourage the use of 500ml water bottles instead of heavier options.
- Strengthen Monitoring: Enhance school bag monitoring committees with regular checks and record-keeping.
- Provide Infrastructure: Offer locker facilities to reduce daily bag load.
The Chandigarh education department's renewed focus on this issue underscores the importance of student health and well-being, calling for collective action from schools, parents, and policymakers to implement effective measures.
