BENGALURU : The new school year has just begun, and once again, children are seen carrying heavy bags. Despite studies about the harm this does, and several plans by the education department to curb the same, the situation has not changed much.Recently, education department officials and academicians did a sample study on the weight of bags in the schools across the state. According to the study, schools bag weighed an average five-kgs to eight-kgs, depending on the school. Another study by an NGO in Mysuru back in 2014, highlighted that the total weight of bags was around 8 kgs.
Parents and activists have suggested measures such as lockers, and fewer pages in notebooks. There were plans to introduce a 'No Bag Day'. But this has not taken off yet. Meanwhile, cases of back pain and spine-related ailments are on the rise here.According to Dr NK Venkataramana, founder and chief neurosurgeon, Brains Hospital, they are seeing a rise in the number of children with back pain and disc collapses. “We have operated on children as young as 14-15 with collapsed discs. With children becoming more sedentary, exercise has taken a back seat."
‘My children walk with a slight bend’
BG Shenoi, who has two children, says, “My children's bags are so heavy that they walk with a slight bend. Schools should adopt a locker system where books can be left behind."
Rashmita Jena, a lawyer, says that her three-year-old niece already carries a bag of around three kgs. “This is the condition of pre-school kids. As they grow up, the burden increases. There has been talk of the government taking measures, but no action has been taken," she says.
Talking about the spinal problems faced by school children, Dr Satish Rudrappa, senior consultant, Neurosurgery, and director of skull-based surgery, Sakra World Hospital, says, "This is the age when the spine grows — from four-18 years. As a result of heavy bags, kids tend to bend forward, which puts pressure on the discs as the kids are chasing their own gravity.
This leads to a curvature in the spine, back pain, and spondylitis among teenagers. Making corrections to the spine is very difficult." He adds, "Some schools are introducing locker systems, and some are moving to digitised learning. This is not the case with government/aided schools. Another issue in schools is that vertical exercises are encouraged, such as aerobics, which are not good for the back. Horizontal exercises such as swimming and Yoga are much better for students."
‘One day 'no bag' day’
Schools say that have been implementing methods to reduce this load. "We do not have textbooks till grade six because we have created our own curriculum," says Nooraine Fazal, co-founder and CEO, Inventure Academy, adding that each kid has a locker. Theme-based teaching also helps reduce the burden since there are no subject-specific books. The school has a ‘limited homework policy' — students till grade three have homework for half-an-hour, and grade four and five kids, for 45 minutes.
Gayethri Devi, principal, Little Flower English School, says the school has a well-designed timetable. "We ensure that bags are no more than two to three kgs. ‘Light periods' through the week, including physical education, music, yoga, and so on."In addition, one day of the week is 'no bag day'. "This can be any day of the week," Devi says.