The Education Department has warned private schools across Uttarakhand of strict action, including withdrawal of their No Objection Certificate (NOC), if they fail to comply with prescribed norms on school bag weight.
There are 5,396 private schools in the state, many of which have allegedly ignored the government notification issued last year fixing bag weight standards for Classes 1 to 12. According to the Directorate of Secondary Education, while government schools have largely adhered to the rules, private schools, particularly those affiliated to CBSE and ICSE, continue to flout the norms.
Under the directive, bag weights must range from a minimum of 1.6 kg in Classes 1-2 to a maximum of 5 kg in Classes 11-12. Chief Education Officers and District Education Officers have been instructed to ensure strict enforcement of these norms.
“Private schools affiliated with CBSE and ICSE are not following the bag standards. Therefore, they have been warned of action, citing the previous government order,” said Dr Mukul Kumar Sati, Director of Secondary Education.
Experts have long cautioned that excessive bag weight negatively affects children’s spines and physical development. To address these concerns, the government has aligned its directives with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
As part of the reforms, all schools must observe a “bag-free day” on the last Saturday of every month, aimed at reducing physical burden and creating a more student-friendly learning environment.
Class-wise Bag Weight Standards:
- Classes 1-2: 1.6 to 2.2 kg
- Classes 3-5: 1.7 to 2.5 kg
- Classes 6-7: 2 to 3 kg
- Class 8: 2.5 to 4 kg
- Classes 9-10: 2.5 to 4.5 kg
- Classes 11-12: 3.5 to 5 kg