In a significant move to lighten the burden of school bags, the Karnataka government has taken steps to reduce the number of textbooks by 50% for students in classes 1 to 10, starting from the academic year 2024-25. This decision aims to promote a scientifically structured approach to learning while addressing concerns about the physical strain on students, according to a report by The Hindu.
Under the new directive, instead of providing all textbooks at once for the entire academic year, students will now receive two books annually. These will be distributed as per the Summative Assessment (SA-1 and SA-2), effectively splitting the content and lightening the load for students.
The official order issued by the State Government reflects the efforts of a committee formed in 2019, comprising education experts, pediatricians, doctors, legal advisors, and officials from the Department of State Education Research and Training (DSERT). The committee conducted a thorough study on reducing the burden of school bags, suggesting weight ranges for school bags based on classes: 1.5 to 2 kg for classes 1 to 2, 2 to 3 kg for classes 3 to 5, 3 to 4 kg for classes 6 to 8, and 4 to 5 kg for classes 9 and 10. However, the initial implementation of this order was limited to government schools, with complaints about private schools not adhering to the guidelines.
A meeting led by the Commissioner of the Department of School Education on October 6, 2023, highlighted the need for action. Subsequently, a committee chaired by the Director of the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board recommended a 50% reduction in textbook size, and their report was submitted to the government on October 12, 2023.
Recognizing that the weight of school bags is not solely attributed to textbooks, the committee proposed a school-level check on the weight of each child’s bag. Schools are urged to ensure that only subject textbooks and notebooks are carried, with additional measures suggested for managing other materials in a separate rough notebook.
In terms of financial implications, the Karnataka Textbooks Society (KTBS) printed a total of 566 titles and 6,39,83,899 textbooks for Rs 323,31,93,175 in the academic year 2023-24. Following the new recommendation, textbooks for SA-1 and SA-2 will be printed separately, with an estimated cost of Rs 8,45,72,950 for the additional titles. This initiative not only addresses the physical strain on students but also emphasizes a more organized and efficient learning system for the educational community in Karnataka.