Discussion on How to Address the Issue of Overly Heavy School Bags for Students in Lunglei

Lunglei : In response to concerns about the overly heavy school bags carried by students, a meeting was held today at the Lunglei DC Conference Hall under the chairmanship of District Magistrate Mr. R. Lalthazuala. The meeting focused on strategies to alleviate the difficulties faced by students due to the excessive weight of their school bags.

Mr. R. Lalthazuala, District Magistrate of Lunglei, highlighted that the Mizoram government had previously issued guidelines on April 30, 2021, to address the issue of heavy school bags. He emphasized that these guidelines are being implemented in Lunglei District as well, and the meeting was convened to discuss the most effective way forward. He noted the importance of reducing the burden on students to ensure their well-being, as the heavy bags could impact their health and learning experience.

During the meeting, it was discussed how the excessive weight of school bags could affect students’ health and what measures could be taken to mitigate this issue. The School Education Department had previously released a directive on April 30, 2021, instructing the District Education Officer to communicate with all government and private schools in the Mizo language. The guidelines also recommended that each school should have bookshelves to store textbooks, and parents, along with teachers, should ensure that students carry only the necessary books each day. Teachers are advised to instruct students to bring only the required materials according to the day’s subjects.

In line with government directives, it was suggested that schools should limit the number of subjects per day—3 for Classes I & II, 4 for Classes III-V, and 6 for Classes VI-X. Additionally, guidelines were given regarding homework, recommending that no more than 1 subject for primary schools, 2 subjects for middle schools, and 3 subjects for high schools and higher secondary schools should be assigned.

It was also discussed that schools should provide clean drinking water and sanitation facilities for students. The SCERT is advised to review and revise textbooks to align with the school exam terms and reduce the burden on students.

Today’s meeting was attended by officials from various departments, including DEO, DCPO, DPO (WCD), SDEO North/South, representatives from voluntary organizations, student associations, teacher unions, and leaders from private and church schools.