IN what could be called a first step of its kind aimed at providing ease to the students from unnecessary burden, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has passed a Bill to limit the weight of schoolbags. Under the law, up to class three, the maximum weight of a school bag will not be more than three kg. Similarly, the weight of school bags for high and higher secondary schools would be less than seven kg.
One does not doubt the good intent of the provincial government behind the legislation but the question is as to what mechanism has been evolved to ensure its proper implementation. We are quick in making any piece of legislation but no home work is done to ensure its compliance. Especially in the public sector schools which lag far behind in adoption of advanced technologies, how can the school bags be made small and smart without bringing much needed changes in the syllabus? There is need to make the curriculum more activity based and the one that discourages cramming. The image of young children lugging heavy school bags is a common one across Pakistan. From private to public sector schools, nearly all educational institutions in this country seem to insist that youngsters carry heavy burdens. However, many doctors and medical specialists have pointed out that heavy school bags are taking a major toll on children’s health and that weighty bags can cause neck, back and shoulder pain in children. In our view, there is need of some out-of-box solutions to address this problem. The public schools must be helped by the state to introduce classroom technologies that can reduce the load in children’s backpacks, and prevent the need to carry heavy textbooks. Perhaps more digital solutions and a sensible schedule for carrying only required books can address the problem. Lockers in the schools may also be helpful to some extent. Nothing is more important than the health and wellbeing of our pupils and new generation. If the issue of heavy school bags is not resolved, we might see a generation of hunchbacks.
