GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL CAPITAL TERRITORY OF DELHI
DIRECTORATE OF EDUCATION: SCHOOL BRANCH
OLD SECRETARIAT: DELHI-110054
No. F. DE.23 (548)Sch.Br./2018/ 14, Dated: 2-5 . 1,
CIRCULAR
Sub:- Reducing the Weight of School Bags in Primary and Secondary Schools.
In continuation to circular No. F.DE.23(548)/Sch.Br./2016/1846 dated 27.10.2016 and as per
guidelines of MHRD the weight of school bags for students is to be reduced.
Heavy school bags are a serious threat to the health and wellbeing of the school students.
The heavy school bag has a severe, adverse physical affect on the growing children which can
cause damage to their vertebral column and knees. Moreover, in the schools which are functioning
in double/multi storey buildings, the children have to climb the stairs with heavy School Bags which
further aggravates the problem. It also causes anxiety in them.
The load of School Bag is increased by bringing textbooks, guides, homework/classwork
notebooks, rough work notebooks, water bottles, lunch box, sometimes heavy school bags also.
Therefore, clear-cut guidelines for reducing weight of School Bags are required.
All the schools running under Directorate of Education have to follow the textbooks
prescribed by the SCERT, NCERT & CBSE. The number of textbooks in different classes should
not exceed the number prescribed by the above said statutory bodies. The Head of schools and
teachers should frame a 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, Art & Culture and other creative and co-curricular activities for holistic
development of students must be encouraged.
Three textbooks have been prescribed for classes I & II i.e. Hindi, English & Mathematics.
There shall not be any homework for these classes as circular already issued vide
No.DE/10/Nur.Br./Misc./2017/Vol-11/137 dated 14.09.2018. As per the prescribed curriculum, six
textbooks have been prescribed for classes VI to X i.e. three textbooks for three languages and
one for Maths, Science & Social Studies each. There shall be one notebook for each subject for
exercises, projects, Unit Test, experiments etc. which the students need to bring as per timetable.
Students should not be asked to bring additional books, extra materials to the school and the
weight of the School Bag should not exceed the following limit:-
S.No. Class Weight of School Bag
1. I & II 1.5 Kg
2. III to V 2 -.3 Kg
3. VI & VII 4 Kg
4. VIII & IX 4.5 Kg
5. X 5 Kg
• Inform the students in advance about the books and notebooks to be brought to the
school on a particular day. The school must frequently check the School Bag to
ensure that the students are not carrying heavy bags with unnecessary material.
• Inform the students and parents regarding appropriate kind of School Bags i.e. which
have less weight and broad straps for symmetrical distribution of weight. The
students should always use both straps for carrying the School Bags and should not
sling the bag over one shoulder . The students should keep the bag down while
waiting for the school conveyance or in the school assembly.
• The schools/parents must ensure that students carry books only according to the
time table. Students should be encouraged to repack their bags on daily basis and
avoid carrying unnecessary articles, textbooks that are not needed.
• Head of Schools should counsel the parents and teachers about the health issues
arising out of the children carrying heavy School Bags. Schools should not prescribe
additional/supplementary books that are costly and designed in a pedagogically
unsound manner.
• The school should provide safe drinking water so as to avoid carrying of drinking
water bottles by students from their home.
This issues with approval of the Competent Authority.
4 ‘%.
Addl. DE (School)
All Heads of Govt., Govt. Aided & Unaided Recognized Schools under Directorate of
Education through DEL-E
No. F. DE.23 (548)/Sch.Br./2018/ Dated: "—el \ \\FS
Copy to :-
1. PPS to Secretary (Education).
2. PS to Director (Education).
3. All RDEs/DDEs (District/Zone)/DEOs to ensure compliance.
4. System Analyst (MIS) for uploading on website.
5. Guard file.
19/
2-4011
DDE (School)
