Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s State Curriculum Steering Committee has approved a draft report outlining measures to reduce the weight of school bags and eliminate the concept of ‘back benchers’ in classrooms, the state General Education and Labour Minister V Sivankutty announced on Thursday.

The reforms are part of two major initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of education in Kerala. The proposals focus on lightening school bags to safeguard the physical and mental well-being of students, and on fostering a democratic classroom environment where every student is actively engaged, the Minister said in an official statement.

The draft report was prepared by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), following a detailed study of the proposed reforms. It was reviewed and approved at the State Curriculum Steering Committee meeting.

To ensure wider social participation, the report has been placed for public consultation on the SCERT website. Teachers, parents, students and members of the public can submit feedback and suggestions on the proposals until January 20. After considering public input, the General Education Department plans to implement the reforms in schools at the start of the next academic year. Sivankutty emphasised that the measures aim to make schools more child-friendly, inclusive, and democratic.

Meanwhile, six states and Union Territories, including Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Kerala, have yet to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 directive mandating a minimum admission age of six years for Class 1. According to sources, 30 states and UTs have already aligned their admission norms with the policy.

In 2023, the Union Education Ministry directed all states and UTs to admit students to Class 1 at age “6+” instead of the earlier “5+” criterion, in line with the NEP 2020 and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009. Some states continue to follow different age criteria for primary school admissions.

“The policy is very clear: admission to Grade 1 must be at six years of age. States and UTs have been asked to strictly align their norms accordingly,” a source said. “So far, 30 states and UTs have implemented the rule, but Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry, Kerala and Chhattisgarh have yet to comply.”

The revised 5+3+3+4 schooling structure under NEP 2020 places children aged three to eight in the foundational stage, which includes three years of pre-school followed by two years of primary schooling. The reforms in Kerala aim to align classroom practices with this framework while promoting student well-being and inclusive participation.

ANI