Despite our Jammu and Kashmir become Union territory still the implementation of school bags policy 2020 not been implemented in its true letter and spirit which can be evident from the fact parents complained that their children’s carried the satchels on their backs in violation of the school bags policy. It is out of place to mention here in that several months back predecessor Directorate of school education issued an order regarding the implementation of school bags policy 2020 in its letter and spirit. But on ground still the very order on school bags policy 2020 flouted with impunity. Thanks to lackadaisical and lacklustre approach of the authorities concerned that they miserably failed to implement the order in its entirety. “What is the purpose of this order when the same has not been implemented on ground, it’s several months passed but it’s astonishing and intriguing aspect that students still carrying heavy school bags” fumed and dejected parents lamented while urging the administration to do the needful at the earliest before it’s too late given the hardships facing by these gullible children’s.
Another parent, Sunita, said that given the scorching heat in this summer season it would be difficult to bear the burden of the heavy school bags by these tender arms of these children’s but school education department is in deep slumber which compounded the miseries of these children’s.
“With new directorate has taken over the reign of this post , official in question need to ensure order of school bags policy implementation in its letter and spirit”, Shafiq, a parents divulged that even there has been mentioned in the order that those private schools who violated the order there recognition would be derecognized. But due to soft paddling by the directorate of school education in implementing the order this has caused inconvenience to these gullible children’s who have to bear the brunt for no fault of theirs”, he asserted. Our children writhing in pain due to carrying of heavy school bags, it’s the parents who knows as how much their children’s suffer on account of heavy school bags. It’s an irony that UT administration sitting over the matter and not shown it’s promptness in implementing the order, advocate Parshotam vehemently rued. Sooner the department acts the better it would be in the interest of the students at large.
“Monopoly of the private schools sabotaged the efforts of directorate of the school education in implementing the order”, Advocate further said adding, Directorate of the school education should not succumbs to the pressure of these private schools. As for first time National education policy (NEP) has been implemented due to which even exams for Jammu and Kashmir also together taken place for the first time which is good step on the part of the government. But why the government is not implementing the school bags order which is a million dollar question and begs answer? Several questions being arisen as to why the order not been implemented in its entirety? Whether those authorities who have been entrusted with the Job of comply with the order of the school bags why they shirk in doing compliance with the order? Whether the order passed by the Directorate of school education of school bags under the pressure of the Parents and now they not in a position to do its compliance? What is the hitch or the hindrance for the Directorate of the school education department in implementing the order?
Whether for the Directorate of school education this order on school bags don’t have any sanctity? If they have sanctity of the order surely till now they have implemented the order? As students are confronting with pain on account of school bags they don’t have any concern for the same? It apparently looks so they don’t have any concern. Had they have concern till now order had been implemented.
It is worthwhile to mention here in that when this much publicised order has been passed then in pursuance to such order few teams of officers went to the private schools for ensuring the implementation of this order. As per students they have been directed by the school administration to tell a blatant lie that they bring school bags as per new school bags policy. The moot question is that students are under pressure and they have to comply with the arbitrary diktat of their school administration. This order would be implemented in its letter and spirit only when the higher ups takes stern action failing which the order lost his very sanctity and the very purpose of passing the order would be frustrated.
Whereas, in compliance to the directions passed in a Public Interest Litigation, School Education Department had made the amendment to J&K School Education Act 2002 by inserting Rule 8A, which mandates School Heads to regulate weight of school bags and mandated Government to cancel affiliation and recognition of the school violating provisions of Rule 8A; and Whereas, in this regard School Education Department on 15 April, 2020 vide No: Edu/L/K/ 86/2016 dated 15.04.2020 issued S.O 126 in exercise of the powers conferred by section 29 of the J&K School Education Act, 2002 in light of PIL No. 09/2016 titled” Badrul Duja vs State of JK”, the Government made the following amendments in J&K School Education Rules, 2010; namely: 1. After Rule 8, the following rule shall be added as Rule 8A; Duty of School Head to ensure that.-
- i) No homework is assigned to students of classes up to 2nd standard.
- ii) No formal books are prescribed at Pre-primary (Nursery, LKG, UKG) levels. However, student of these classes may be provided maximum two notebooks/work books to be kept in the teacher’s custody in the school itself;
iii) Students of Pre-primary level are not asked to carry any bag except light carrier for Lunch box;
- iv) No Schools should prescribe any other subjects except;
(a) Language and Arithmetic for class 1st & 2nd;
(b) Language, Environmental Science (EVS)& Arithmetic for class 3rd to 5th; and
(c) Language, Social Science, Mathematics and Science for class 6th and 7th, or as prescribed by the affiliating authority.
- v) Students shall not be asked to bring additional books and extra material to school. In any case, the weight of the school bag should not exceed the following limit(including Bag weight and other material):
- School Education Department shall issue detailed guidelines and direction from time to time regulating the weight of the school bags;
- The Government may cancel affiliation and recognition of the school violating the provisions of the rule 8A (1); and
- The School Education Department shall issue academic calendar every year for the schools affiliated with JKBOSE /Government, which shall be followed by all the concerned schools. “and
Whereas, it has been brought to our knowledge that its implementation is not seen on ground level as most the schools flout norms as envisaged in Rule 8A of J&K School Education Act 2002; and
Whereas, the Department of School Education & Literacy GOI has rolled down School Bag Policy, 2020 in consonance with judgement of Madras High Court dated: 19.05.2018 in WP No. 25680 of 2017 titled “M. Purushothanan Vs Union of India “wherein Union of India interalia was directed to frame a policy on children school bag as on the lines of “Children School Bags (Limitation on weight) Bill, 2016”; and
Whereas, the School Bag Policy 2020 is a comprehensive guideline on School Bag Weight and includes following advisory:
“The school bag is a common cause of backache in school-going children. A heavy bag may cause a child to compensate by leaning his body forward and this can strain muscles in his neck, shoulders and back. The child may also find it difficult to put the bag on and take it off, or he falls frequently in school while carrying his schoolbag” (R. Avantika, et al, 2013); and Whereas, some relevant Recommendations of the School Bag Policy 2020 are reproduced below:
- A) Regular Checking of School Bag weight in the school.
- B) Time Table: Timetable should be framed in such a way that for each day of the week the bag weight should not alter as per the given table. C) Note Books:
*Single notebook need to be used for Classes I and II for class work only.
*Two note books for class work and homework for Classes III-V. At a time only one notebook shall be allowed in a child’s bag, the second one will be kept in school.
*For Classes VI-VIII, one file with loose paper need to be used for class work and homework. Systematic use of files with loose sheets need to be promoted from Class VI onwards, Students need to be taught on how to use ‘filing’ in an efficient and intelligent way so that loose sheets do not become lost sheets.
*Files and thin exercise-books should be preferred to thick ones. From primary stage, students should be given systematic training in proper use of school files and homework filing systems.
- D) School Diary:
School Diary or Almanac also adds to the weight of school bag. This needs to be avoided or made thinner as it remains mostly empty. If teacher wants to inform parents about the child, they may either use mobile, email or back pages of the child’s notebook or any digital platform whatever is feasible.
Whereas, in this regard a circular was issued from this Directorate vide No: DSEK/CEW/Circular/22/2997-3006 Dated 25-05-2022 for enforcing the guidelines of School bag Policy, 2020 for maintaining of School bag Weight & all Deputy Commissioners were requested vide No. DSEK/CEW/Circular/135-44 Dated:- 10-06-2022 to direct the Executive magistrates at different levels to enforce the circular instructions but school heads seem not following the standards set by the Government.
Now, therefore, all the School Heads (Government as well as Private) are hereby once again directed to strictly adhere to the S.O 126 issued by School Education Department on 15 April, 2020 vide No: Edu/L/K/ 86/2016 dated 15.04.2020 enforcing Rule 8A of J&K School Education Rules, 2010 and revised guidelines of School Bag Policy, 2020 issued by Department of School Education and Literacy Ministry of Education, Government of India for reducing of School bag weight and recommendations of books thereof. Any dereliction on part of any Government or Private School shall be viewed seriously and shall invite the action as envisaged in Rule 8A clause (3), quoted from Ziraat times.
Director School Education Jammu Ashok Kumar Sharma on being contacted to know the exact reason for not complying with the order passed by the government on school bags policy which is badly affecting the health of the students as they are suffering with back ache.
Director School Education Ashok Sharma after listened to the query of the Hidden News regarding the non-implementation of school bags policy order said, “I am busy at this moment he said adding, come in my office and we will sit and discussed the matter”
