Peerzada Umer
Srinagar, Jun 24: In 2020, the Department of Education released a circular aimed at enhancing the attractiveness and reducing the constraints of early education for children in Jammu and Kashmir.
The circular clearly indicated that pre-primary children would not utilise formal textbooks or a designated syllabus, and that students in Grades 1 and 2 would not receive daily homework assignments. The regulation aimed to control the weight of schoolbags, highlighting increasing awareness of the physical and psychological burden on young students.
Notwithstanding these explicit directives, numerous children continue to be observed making their way to school each morning, their diminutive physiques encumbered by huge school bags.
This situation has elicited significant apprehension among parents, educators, and child welfare advocates, prompting enquiries over the lack of enforcement of the Department of Education’s recommendations and the authorities’ silence on the issue.
“The breaches of the Department’s directions and Rule 8A of the Jammu and Kashmir School Education Act, 2002, are becoming progressively prevalent in both private and government schools. Rule 8A was instituted to govern the weight of schoolbags and avert the excessive burden on children. What we are witnessing on the ground is quite contrary,” a senior official in the department of education said.
Reports suggest that the circular released on April 15, 2020, intended as a public welfare initiative, is being mostly ignored. The regulation forbade schools from endorsing textbooks containing supplementary content or superfluous complexity, establishing explicit limits for curriculum and resources in early grades.
It further stipulated that students in the initial two grades should not get homework and should bring only a basic notepad to school, if necessary.
Beginning in Grade 1, students were allowed to carry solely language and mathematics textbooks, whilst those in Grades 3 to 5 could additionally include environmental studies in their school bags. Students in Grades 6 to 8 were permitted to use only texts in language, mathematics, science, and social sciences.
Even with these standards, the execution doesn’t seem to be up to par. Observations indicate many young students continue to carry backpacks that are too heavy and contain items that are against the rules. The ongoing violation of official rules has caused worries about children’s health, as research shows that carrying too many heavy school bags can cause physical illnesses and slow down growth.
The 2020 directive, known as SO-126, also stated that schools couldn’t make students provide extra or unnecessary learning materials. After the summer break, education officials have said that inspections will take place, and schools that don’t follow these rules may face disciplinary action. Parents and educators have advocated for the essential implementation of these restrictions, asserting that lighter school bags are crucial for the health and academic success of young children. (KNO)
