Lok Sabha Question No. 2050 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-30
Subject: School Bags
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RAJAN BABURAO  VICHARE, VISHNU DAYAL RAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2050 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2018

## School Bags

## †2050.   SHRI RAJAN VICHARE: SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Yashpal committee had recommended Learning without Burden in 1993 and if so, the action taken by the Government on such recommendations;
- (b) whether  the  National  Council  for  Educational  Research  and  Training  (NCERT)  has been asked to prepare a Report to provide tablet/PCs to all schools and to formulate a flexible time  table  with  a  view  to  ease  the  burden  of  school  bags  on  students  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to prepare guidelines for CBSE schools to reduce burden of school bags and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  some  Government  schools  in  Maharashtra  have  started  a programme  for reducing burden of school bags under which students are not required to bring their  school  bags  and  schools  making  provide  school  bags  in  schools  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (e) the reasons for not following such system by other schools;
- (f) whether  there  is  any  proposal  to  divide  the  course  books  in  two  parts  to  lighten  the burden of school bags and if so, the details thereof; and
- (g) the time by which the said suggestions are likely to be implemented?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

(a) The issues related to curriculum load raised in the Yash Pal Committee Report (1993) on 'Learning Without Burden' were, inter-alia , taken into consideration at the time of framing of the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) -2005 by the National Council of Educational Research and  Training  (NCERT).    The  NCF  sets  the  guidelines  and  direction  for the  development  of curriculum, syllabi and textbooks at all the school stages. As a follow up to the NCF, curriculum, syllabi, text-books and other supplementary material are developed by NCERT.   State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERTs) and State Education Boards either adopt or adapt NCERT's model syllabi and textbooks or develop their own syllabi and textbooks based on NCF.

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and the Central Board  of  Secondary  Education  (CBSE)  have  already  taken  measures  to  reduce  the  weight  of school bags. NCERT has not recommended any textbook for early childhood education. It has recommended only two books (Language and Mathematics) for classes I & II and three books for classes III  to  IV  (Language,  Environmental Studies and  Mathematics).  NCERT has also made available  all  their  textbooks  for  free  access  through  the  web  (epathshala.nic.in)  and  mobile devices.   CBSE  has  directed  schools  affiliated  to  it  to  ensure  that  students  do  not  carry  school bags till class II and also to restrict the number of books to be prescribed in classes I-VIII.

Education  being  a  subject  in  the  Concurrent  List  of  the  Constitution  and  majority  of schools  being  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  State/Union  Territory  Government,  it  is  for  the respective  States/Union  Territory  Government  to  prescribe  norms  with  regard  to  appropriate weight of School Bags for their schools.

- (b) No, Madam.
- (c) The  CBSE  has  already  advised  all  its  affiliated  schools  vide  their  circular  dated  12 th September, 2016 to take all possible measures to keep the weight of school bag under control.
- (d) The State Government of Maharashtra has informed that they have not started any such programme.
- (e) Does not arise.
- (f) No such proposal is under consideration of the Government at present.
- (g) Does not arise.

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