Dimapur, October 18 : Here is news that will definitely lighten the backache of worried parents and sweating students alike: the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights of Nagaland (SCPCR) has directed the School Education department to “notify” school institutions to instate ‘recommendations’ to minimise the “adverse effects of heavy school bags.”
The commission issued a statement on Tuesday referring to a recent study by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). The study highlighted the adverse effects of heavy school bags that children have to carry to school every day.
“Though providing lockers in schools and reducing reference books are effective measures, it has been felt that the problem needs to be addressed on a larger level,” the commission stated.
In this regard, the commission has asked the state department of School Education to instate the following measures as recommended by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights:
The measures: ensuring that the weight of schoolbags is not more than 10 percent of the weight of the child; children in pre-primary classes should not carry any books / notebooks to school; sensitisation and awareness required at three levels namely, for principals, teachers and parents.
“For this, appropriate short term awareness/training programmes should be conducted,” the commission said.
Also, schools should be directed to issue guidelines for all students to carry books as per the timetable and also suggest suitable, safe ways to carry bags
Schools are to issue directions to all teachers to pre-inform students about the books / notebooks to be carried on a particular day
“Appropriate action should be taken against any school not following the guidelines,” the commission’s chairperson Meilemla Pongener stated in the press release.
