The Government has taken various initiatives to reduce the curriculum load and the burden of school bags. Some of the initiatives taken in this regard are as under:
(i) The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has recommended only two books (Language and Mathematics) for classes I & II and three books for Classes III to V (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.
(ii) The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has directed schools affiliated to it to ensure that students do not carry school bags till Class II. In its latest circular dated 12th September, 2016, it has advised all its affiliated schools to take all possible measures to keep the weight of school bag under control.
(iii) Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan implemented a Pilot project e-Prajna with the distribution of 5000 Tablets to all the students of class-VII in 25 Kendriya Vidyalayas (One KV from each region ) to reduce the burden of bag. Teachers will use the tablets in classroom to teach science and mathematics for enhancing core skills in the subject.
Education being a subject in the Concurrent List of the Constitution and the majority of schools are under the jurisdiction of the State Governments, it is for the respective State/Union Territory Government to take appropriate measures to reduce the burden of schools bags of the children studying in their schools.
This information was given by the Minister of State (HRD), Shri Upendra Kushwaha today in a written reply to a Rajya Sabha question.
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