Daily Times

Sir: In our country, school children are left with no other option but to carry heavy school bags to school these days. According to the research, this leads to strained backs and necks in growing children. Carrying heavy bags make students not only undergo psychological stress but also develop health issues. It is beyond understanding why the school administrations have failed to organise the time table for carrying books. Whatever the reason, this for sure adds another failure to the already stale education system in the country.

World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that the weight of school bag must not be more than the 10pc body weight of the student. However, hardly is it followed in Pakistan, with school children above 5 to 10th standard averagely carrying as heavy bags as 10kg.

Parents should also be held responsible for not realising when their kids complain of pain. This often happens when children undergo growing phase. Effect of heavy bag on students should be a cause of concern for them. School administrations need to customise the time table of the course stuff in such a way that reduces the needless weight of school bags.

If schools fail, government must intervene and fix the weight limit and penalise school management in case they fail to meet the international standards.

RIAZ MAHAR

Sukkur

Published in Daily Times, January 12^th 2018.