Good news for school students, the Telangana government has put a cap on the weight of bags carried by schoolchildren to prevent adverse physical effect and anxiety disorders. The order prescribing the weight limit of school bags for students from primary to Class X was released on Tuesday by the government.
According to the order meant for the school managements, the maximum weight of a school bag with textbooks and notebooks should not exceed 1.5 kg for Class 1 and II and 2 to 3 kg for Classes III to V.
“For Classes VI and VII, the weight should not exceed 4 kg and for Classes VIII and IX, it should not be more than 4.50 kg. In the case of Class X, it should not be more than 5 kg,” the order said.
As per estimates in some districts, school children were currently carrying bags weighing from 6 kg to 12 kg at primary level and up to 17 kg at high school level, it said.
“This (heavy schools bags) results in severe, the adverse physical effect on the growing children and can cause damage to their vertebral column, knees. It can also cause anxiety disorders in students,” the order said.
The order also said there shall not be any homework for primary grade children (from Classes I to V).
