Reducing the weight of school bags : Govt yet to take a final call on recommendations by committee
Srinagar: The high level committee formed by the government to suggest measures on reducing the weight of bags carried by school going children has submitted its report. However, the government is still examining the report.
Notably, parents and concerned teachers were hopeful that the report will be accepted by the government before the start of the new academic session in school.
However, the committee constituted by the government seems to be least bothered to finalize their recommendations over reducing weight in school bags of lower class students.
“This was the right time to finalize the report and submit the recommendations to the government for its implementation in schools,” a group of school teachers said.
Interestingly, the J&K government last month constituted a high level committee to recommend various means and ways to be adopted for reducing weight of the otherwise heavy bags of school going children.
The government has also informed High Court, during a hearing of PIL submitted in court, that the committee will submit its final recommendation report to the government for its implementation.
“But the department has not fixed any deadline for the committee to submit their recommendations,” an official said.
He said the committee should have been asked to submit the report before the commencement of new academic session in schools so that schools will accordingly make process to start new class work.
“Otherwise it will start a new controversy if report is not implemented before beginning of new academic session,” he said.
Meanwhile, sources revealed that the committee has submitted a copy of recommendations to the school education department which is being examined for its implementation.
“Even if the report is submitted to the government, the file will be shelved because of closure of move offices in civil Secretariat. The recommendations have been submitted to secretary school education Department,” the officials said.
Interestingly, the issue of heavy school bags came to limelight after the issue was highlighted in a section of media that heavy bags were proving detrimental for the small school going children.
Following the hue and cry over issue, education department also issued a circular to private schools asking them to reframe the time table of lower classes in schools.
Also a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was also filed in J&K High Court regarding the same issue following which Education Department was directed to look for measures to address the issue.
Meanwhile, secretary school education department Farooq Ahmad Shah confirmed that the recommendations were submitted by the committee which are being examined by the department.
“Yes we received the recommendation report on how we can reduce the weight of school bags but the report is being examined by the department. It will be implemented only after it is approved by the government,” Shah said.
KV Correspondent
