Meghalaya Government Implements Weight Limits On School Bags; Restricts Homework For Classes I And II

Putting recommendations of the Union HRD Ministry into action, the Meghalaya government has issued a notification limiting the weight of school bags of school students of all classes, albeit at different levels, and restricting how much homework can be assigned to students in classes I and II, reports India Today.

"We have issued instructions via a notification, setting limits on the weight of school bags. This is in line with the guidelines of the Union Human Resources Development Ministry, keeping in mind that the weights the children carry affect their health," Education Principal Secretary D P Wahlang stated.

School bags of students in classes I and II will be limited to a weight of 1.5 kg, while 3 kg will be the cap for those in classes III to V.

In classes VI to VII, the limit will further go up to 4 kg, while in classes VIII and IX it will be at 4.5 kg.

Class X students will have the highest limit at 5 kg.

The directive adds that schools must ensure that students are made to bring textbooks of only those subjects scheduled in the timetable.

The notification also calls upon schools to encourage student participation in co-curricular activities for their overall growth.