Shillong, May 17: Pursuing the guidelines of the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development on the weight of school bags and health of children, the Principal Secretary in-charge Education Department has instructed all schools to comply with the Government guidelines with immediate effect.

The notification says, schools shall not assign homework to student except those recommended by MBOSE/ICSE/CBSE, schools shall not assign homework to students of Classes I and II. The weight of school bags for students of Class I and II should not exceed 1.5 kgs. The maximum weight of school bags for Classes III to V students shall be 2-3 kgs, for Classes VI to VII students shall be 4 kgs, for classes VIII to IX students shall be 4.5 kgs and for Class X students shall be 5 kgs.

Students should not be forced to bring additional books and other materials apart from the prescribed textbooks. Schools should make sure that students carry only such textbooks as indicated in the time-table.

The Head of schools and teachers should frame well-designed time table for each class so that children do not have to carry too many books or notebooks to the school each day. Reading library books and participation in games, sports, arts & culture and other creative and co-curricular activities for holistic development of students must be encouraged.

The government said, this otification would take effect immediately.

pic: indiatoday.in