Maharashtra Directorate of Primary Education has directed all government, local body, and private recognized schools across the state to strictly enforce the Central Government’s ‘School Bag Policy 2020’ to protect students from spinal injuries and physical strain.
Under the directive issued by Director of Education (Primary) Sharad Gosavi, school bag weights must not exceed 10% of a student’s total body weight. To ensure compliance, education officers, block education officers, and cluster heads will conduct surprise inspections in schools, weighing student bags on the spot.
Main Points of School Bag Policy 2020:
- Pre-Primary Classes: Schools must plan routines so pre-primary children carry no bags to school.
- Bag Timetables: Teachers must refrain from asking students to bring extra textbooks, workbooks, or material daily. Schools must prepare a strict daily “bag timetable.”
- Storage Facilities: Schools are instructed to set up classroom cupboards, shelves, or lockers so students do not need to haul every book home daily.
- Drinking Water Provision: Schools must offer clean, sufficient drinking water on campus to eliminate the need for heavy water bottles.
- 10-Day ‘Bagless’ Period: In line with NEP 2020, students in classes 6 to 8 will get a 10-day bagless learning period annually. They will participate in hands-on activities led by local artisans in fields like carpentry, pottery, gardening, handicrafts, and agriculture.
- Activity Days: Schools are instructed to host activity-oriented days focusing on sports, reading, storytelling, environmental awareness, and field visits throughout the academic year.
Primary accountability for executing the policy rests with school headmasters. Education authorities will maintain weight-check registers and compile compliance reports, warning that any delay or negligence in implementation will not be tolerated.
