Thiruvananthapuram: A study has found that the weight of school bags is creating serious health problems for students. The research, conducted by the SCERT under the Department of General Education, recommends immediate reforms to avoid health complications. The study was carried out as per the direction of General Education Minister V Sivankutty.

The NCERT’s school bag policy states that a school bag should not weigh more than 10 per cent of a child’s body weight.

The study was based on information collected from students, teachers and parents from eight schools in Thiruvananthapuram. Bags weighing less than 10 per cent of body weight were classified as safe. Those between 10 and 15 per cent require caution. Bags weighing above 15 per cent were identified as dangerous. The report says 27.12 per cent of children feel the bag weight is a serious problem.

LP students fall in the precautionary category. UP students fall in both precautionary and dangerous zones. Most high school students are at high risk. Higher secondary students are mostly in the precautionary range.

Students complain of shoulder pain, neck pain and back pain. Some parents say heavy bags are even affecting their children’s body posture. The report warns that this may cause severe health problems in future and calls for urgent intervention.

Suggested solutions: One-note system and E-books

• Limit timetable to three or four subjects per day.

• Inform students in advance about required books.

• Provide lockers or common shelves in schools to store books.

• Encourage textbook sharing.

• Introduce the e-version of textbooks.

• Use joint notebooks in primary classes.

• Use worksheets instead of books for homework.

• Promote e-books and tablets in UP and high school.

• Digitise assignments and question papers.

• Use laptops or tablets for note-taking in higher secondary.

• Introduce monthly bag-free days.