At the start of the school year, parents have a lot to do. Among other activities that sustain and promote family income and enrich family life, they have to cope with their child’s school schedule, and keep a close watch on his grades. As if that was not enough, parents also have to contend with a rising concern about shoulder, neck and /or back trauma among school children, caused by heavy school bags. While parents blame teachers for the increasing weight, school managements feel students tend to carry most of the books, and parents should ensure that books are sent as per the timetable
Limits on School Bag Weights:
The 1993 report ‘Learning without burden’, submitted by the Yash Pal Committee appointed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development stated that young children should not be compelled to carry heavy bags to schools.
As per Kendriya Vidyalaya Sanghtan guidelines set in the academic year 2009 -2010, the upper limits for school bags are as follows:
– Not more than 2 kg for students in classes 1 and 2,
– Not more than 3 kg for classes 3 and 4.
– Not more than 4 kg for classes 5 and 8
– Not More than 6 kg for classes 9 to 12
These guidelines, parents, whose kids go to Kendriya vidyalayas, and teachers there say is not “religiously” followed.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had also issued a circular to reduce the load of the bags by revising the timetable, if need be
The statistics are worrying:
A recent study conducted by Pratham and NGO in Mysore and A. J. Stationery, on the weight of school bags showed the average weight of a bag to be around 8 kg. The study covered about 3,000 students in and around Mysore city, attending government and private schools across State, CBSE and ICSE syllabi. The study covered students from Class V to X. There were instances of school bags weighing 4 kg, particularly on Saturdays, Mr. Viren, who was associated with the exercise said the weight went up to 11.5 kg in certain cases.
The trauma of a heavy school bag:
With academic loads and demands being what they are, the ubiquitous school bag is usually in excess of 10% of a child’s body weight – a risk factor in scoliosis (the side ways of curvature of the spine) among children.
There are other risk factors that add to the weight parameter – Carrying the bag over one shoulder, an incorrectly packed backpack, and an incorrectly fitted backpack.
What concerned groups are doing:
A consultative meeting of experts, Child rights activists and academics, convened by the People’s Legal Forum and presided over by former Vice-Chancellor of Kuvempu University P. Venkataramaiah in Mysore on Sunday has favored a legislation on the lines of the Children School Bags (Limitation on Weight) Bill 2006, which was introduced in the Rajya Sabha, but was later shelved.
They plan to convince Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Ratnakar on the need for a law to regulate the weight of school bags.
They also resolved to approach the court with a public interest litigation petition if the government does not respond.
What you can do:
Maybe parents have more important things to worry about, but it is important that they do take time out to observe and communicate with their children. Does the child complain of back pain? Does he walk bent over sideways to try to adjust for the heavy load of a backpack? Does he complain of numbness and tingling in his arms or hands? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, they must not wait but seek the opinion of a pediatrician and /or an orthopedist at the earliest. While the majority of scoliosis is idiopathic, meaning, its cause is unknown, heavy back packs are a known risk factor and need your attention.
What can you do to help your child prevent trauma due to a heavy back pack?
a. Weigh it and try to keep it at, or under 10% of your child’s body weight or follow the kendriya vidyalya guidelines
b. Convince your children to wear the back pack the way it was designed. – High on the shoulders and close to the spine.
c. Help your child organize and clean their bags to limit the load.
d. Encourage your child to maintain their general fitness levels and an active lifestyle.
Simple Precautions, active observation and immediate attention can prevent a major and life long calamity.
