Champua: The people of Champua have alleged that private schools in Balasore district, including Champua and Joda blocks, are not following the schoolbag policy of the government.
The government asked Collectors five months ago to ensure implementation of its schoolbag guidelines by all private schools to reduce the weight of schoolbags.
As per government guidelines, private schools will now have to set the weight of students’ schoolbags for different age groups.
The government had instructed Collectors to ensure implementation of the order for reducing the weight of schoolbags. As per the guidelines, the weight of a schoolbag should be less than five kg.
Heavy schoolbags are a serious threat to students’ health. It has a severe, adverse effect on growing children and can damage their vertebral column and knees. It also causes anxiety in them.
Moreover, in schools which function in multistoried buildings children have to climb steps with heavy schoolbags, which aggravates the problem.
This heavy load is due to the fact that children bring textbooks, guides, homework books, rough work books and a lot more to class every day.
But here many private schools are not obeying the government’s rules, and are forcing students to carry heavy schoolbags.
The government had warned school managements that strong action will be taken against them if they do not follow schoolbag weight rules.
When Joda Block Education Officer Gobardhan Nayak was asked about this, he said they have asked schools to submit a report regarding the weight of schoolbags carried by their students. If we find any deviation from rules then we will take action, he added.
PNN