NEW DELHI: Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday said that fresh norms would be issued to CBSE affiliated schools to reduce the burden of school bags.
Speaking at an event organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Javadekar said that in order to reduce the burden of school bags on students, his ministry is working on fresh norms for CBSE schools. Sunday Standard had on November 5, 2016 reported on government’s concern on heavy school bags and that the Union HRD ministry is working on it.
"I am going to reduce the weight of school bags. Carrying heavy bags is not necessary. It will definitely happen. We are preparing norms for CBSE schools that bundles of books and notebooks do not have to be needlessly carried," he said.
While CBSE has directed its schools that students upto class 2 should not bring school bags and the restricted the number of books carried till class 8, the HRD ministry is looking at these aspects to make the norms more effective, broad based as well as comprehensive, ministry officials said.
He said schools giving project work to students are generally done by parents and “we are looking into it,” he said indicating that fresh guidelines will also be issued to CBSE affiliated schools in this regard.
"The real education is where the child learns even if he makes a mistake. The seniors can guide though.The parents too need to be educated," Javadekar pointed out.
He also gave the Green Schools Awards, instituted by the CSE to schools. Children from various schools were present at the event.