In Hyderabad, there is a small loophole in the School Bag Policy-2020 that is impacting efforts to promote healthy school bags. One recommendation of the policy is to involve publishers and developers of school books, such as the NCERT and the State government, to establish a ‘Textbook Development Policy’. This policy should clearly outline the minimum and maximum number of pages and weight allowed for textbooks for each class and subject.
The policy aims to address environmental concerns and reduce the weight of school bags, as textbooks are a major contributor to bag weight. Publishers were instructed to print the number of pages and, if possible, the weight of each textbook on the inner or back cover. This would help students, parents, and teachers monitor the weight of the bags on a daily basis.
Despite these efforts, the policy falls short of ensuring children carry healthy school bags. The issue lies in the requirement for publishers to print the weight of textbooks on the covers “if feasible.” Some schools struggle to accurately determine the weight of bags without weighing machines in each classroom.
In one international school in Nallaganda, the principal explained that while they are aware of weight norms for each class, practical challenges arise in accurately assessing bag weight. Parents and students also face difficulties in calculating book weight on a daily basis. Even textbooks from Central School Boards and those published by the Telangana State government press do not include weight information.
The absence of weight details on textbooks poses a challenge for schools, parents, and students striving for healthier school bags.
