It has been observed that serious problems
are rising due to heavy school bags among primary and secondary students.
Although parents care about their child in all aspects but this problem is silently
inculcating and causing hurt innocents kids. This problem has been ignored
since long. As per NewsWise report, 50% school going children who carry heavy bags
daily, feel pain and tiredness. American Physical Therapist Association (APTA) revealed in the study that
“students carry 15% more weight heavier than their body weight”.
In the same way, In Pakistani context
majority of school children have heavy bags more than their body weight. They
not only carry it on the shoulders but also put on the laps all the way when they
go by school van for at least 1 hour. This causes thigh pain and they are
unable to move quickly when they dropped at school or home. What a Pity!
One famous Medical Director of Spinal Disorders Avrom Gart, revealed that,
"To balance their body weight school children lean forward which cause abnormal
posture as they groom”.
Sadly in this modern age of
technology, students are carrying heavy bag day by day. Weight of water bottles
is additional. School bags must be
used properly to avoid grievances. In Pakistan, schools put the extra
burden on students by making timetable in such a way that they have to bring
books and copies of at least 6 subjects while the normal ratio to carry weight
as per your body weight is between 10 to 15 % but it is in the range
of 25 to 40% more or in some cases higher than this.
All
stakeholders could do combined efforts to constantly guide their children to control
the weight of the school bag. Here are some suggestions to reduce the burden on
child’s back:
·
School
managements should control the ratio of weight of heavy bags to the body weight
of students through 100 % weighing of school bag and students in all classes
for a normal day on arrival.
·
To
reduce weight of heavy school bags, worksheet culture could be promoted instead
of books and copies. Students will only bring worksheet files of all subjects.
They can read reference book and text-books at home. Keep the classwork copies
in the school and replace homework copies with worksheet files so that it could
be easy for all to bring it daily.
·
Lockers
can be provided to all students in the class to put their extra books and
copies in it rather than bring it daily.
·
Homework
could be submitted online.
·
Teachers
should find the ways and means to control the weight of bags under control
limits. They should emphasize on hands-on activities because through these activities
students could more engage in real life rather than books and copies.
·
If
school management strongly believes on homework and classwork copies they
should make separate portion in one copy to reduce the burden of two copies and
change copies semester/ term wise.
These
suggestions are beneficial for all stakeholders. We should understand that in
later life the risk of poor physical development is real. The problem is
wide-spread, which no single stakeholder can handle individually. School
management and parents should feel that how our kids are suffering from heavy
weight otherwise their kids would be called as heavy weight champions more than
student.
I WELCOME all stakeholders to share their precious views about this topic
ReplyDeletecan comment
ReplyDeleteSchool Management should consider distributing ipads and laptops to the students in this era where a kindergarten student can operate an ipad. it will save our environment and make our work paper less and more convenient.
ReplyDeleteSchool management should consider distributing ipads and Laptops and consider installing 42'' curve screen TV in class rooms, helicopter or an aero plane for a jam free traffic, business class seats in classrooms, Basken Robins and starbucks outlets in front of every class, a bedroom with five star hotel facilities where student can go only for a short nap, short because kids are there for studies not for sleeping ,cinema house for mind relaxing, swimming pools for healthy body coz sound body contains sound minds, spa massage centers for tension releasing coz kids take much tension, manicure and pedicure specialists for weekly nails checkups, health gym and body building clubs for them as well it will save paper work and much much more convenient and precious time of young kids....right???
Deleteanyone can comment
ReplyDeleteAnyoAnyone
ReplyDeleteI like the concept and articulation. Overall a good attempt.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the solutions could be more approachable. Like, online learning, lockers, worksheets or Ipads and laptops can not save the child from exertion and can not let him overcome the study burden. We need to re-engineer our education system like Finland does..read here: http://www.businessinsider.com/finland-education-school-2011-12?op=1...
wow... I visited this link and found impressive findings. However, borrowing such practices to our context needs 360 degree change in the system. Let's take an example, education is completely funded by state. Is it possible for a country like Pakistan which invest 2% of its GDP on education, teachers are paid handsome salary, class size is small (btw what is their population ... can we expect the same in our country). We could aspire to reach to that level but seems difficult at this point in time.
DeleteAccording to World Population Review, Finland Population is 5.44 million, making this the 116th most populous country on the planet. The point is how they are running their education system stress free and seeking No.1 position in the world. No doubt their Gov is totally involved to develop their country but we as a Pakistani nation can take initiative from our end to council the management and raise your voice through writing blogs and articles..Maybe someone pay heed on it... I would suggest all teachers to watch this motivational movie that how we can bring the change n i think it’s the best way. Movie name is FREEDOM WRITERS
DeleteHave watched the movie n agree with u.
DeleteGovernment n its policies play a major role in carrying out n bringing a change. Edu sector in Pakistan is in dire need of some immediate n drastic changes to bring about some positive change for our generations to come
A thought provoking topic and this really needs serious attention from the part of all stakeholders
ReplyDeleterightly pointed out. It can't be resolved without involving all stakeholders. Parents, students, teachers, tuition centre owners, Government, school management .. all have their own issues, priorities and need.
DeleteThats why students consider studies and going to school as burden
ReplyDeletegood suggestions and school management must think about it
ReplyDeleteIts a bitter truth and an eye opening article with some fantastic workable solutions.
ReplyDeleteIn modern world our kids are already overloaded with mental stress, lack of sports and involvement in physical activities is much lesser then kids of 1980s and 1990s and no doubt heavy school bags making it worst
It is a very serious issue dear n I appreciate ur work n suggestion although this is the first step n ti change the system v hv to work as a team v parents students n teChers can make the life easier n can giv the relief to students n teachers as well.luv the ideas of others too.it may help us all to achieve ur goal luv the idea hope it may consider.
ReplyDeleteI think to realize the problem is the first step to feel the pain of other human beings and its approach towards humanity. YES! We can solve it to share our views and change the mind sets of our stakeholders and focus towards the better solution for all. As a critical thinker, I observed many things and see that our nation is full of talent. they just need to show the opportunities, reliefs and hope to make everything possible.
DeleteAn eye opener. Effective measures r required involving all stakeholders because this issue is now turning into a menace for our kids.
ReplyDeleteSamer, indeed a thought provoking statement and I believe all of us as parents witnessing the same issue with our children. Today in the morning when I dropped my son to School, I picked up his bag and start laughing because at that time I recalled this write-up and asked Daanial, today your bag is very lightweight so immediately reply Friday a day is short so less period so less books and copies. I witness the day off Monday and others the bag is full of books and copies (7 periods a day so total 14 copies and other stuff).
ReplyDeleteBeing professional associated with the field of Education technology I can easily suggest the idea of deploying the interactive whiteboard, tablets, digitalizing curriculum and so much of other things, but that may only happen in a few of the private schools/organization they can afford it and where paying capacity of parents is high but on the other hand in hundreds of other private schools and thousands of government school that case is totally different.
Actually, this doesn’t resolve over the night. This is the change process as the other responded and change takes time, but the idea of using worksheets, starting the culture of online assignment and collaboration is the starting point and one fine day we hope this will change. There are so many stakeholders involved in this process, I agree, but I am a strong believer of the doer (practical approach) so whatever I can do in my own personal capacity, whether public or private I can sow the seed towards the big cause with the hope that one fine day the next generation can get benefit.
online homeschooling idea could be followed. in other countries there are no of online accreditation homeschooling institutions so why can't we introduce it here in Pk? this initiative could be taken by techno savvy instructors.
DeleteFurthermore, Home school programs include all forms of external help with homeschooling. Some are called umbrella schools, other programs call themselves Independent Study Programs, Distance Learning Programs, Virtual or Cyber Schools, Charter Schools, or Learning Centers. A homeschool program is basically a collection of curriculum, procedures and staff providing support to homeschooling children and parents. Homeschool programs vary greatly. Some programs cover all grades from kindergarten to high school, others cover elementary school or middle school and not the high school grades. Some online schools are supported by tax payers and are merely extensions of local public schools, all “home school programs” must be investigated before joining.
DeleteI have read the article and so the comments and have found them very interesting in terms of reading purpose.
ReplyDeleteNow we should work something practical and for me the best place to start a revolution is our own home. Let's overhaul the tuition culture first. Let's teach our children ourselves. Let's make our children friendlier with books. Let's help them to grow stronger at time of solving a complex mathematical equation. We can achieve this all. All we need to do is to learn unlearn and relearn.
We must do this
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteits a serious issue for the country where child health is decreasing day by day,this can be manage by removing the extra stuff and replace the books with modern electronics.
ReplyDeleteThis is an eye-opener! But the question is why haven't enough people acted on it already when they see this cruelty every day? The answer lies in our collective irresponsibility about education. We see the children suffering but shrug it away as we think nothing can be done about it.
ReplyDeleteBut a simple idea can work wonders: lockers in the schools. This way the children can keep their books in the schools and take home ONLY what they need to study the next day. The whole ridiculous baggage that is carried every day can be cut down very simply. But then the issue is: do we value the cost of making the lockers above the backs of the children? To date sadly the answer is NO.
an other Idea I want to share that to see all this hassles, I prefer home schooling as a pilot project and see it effects on parents and students. It could be done by parents or online learning. for this purpose we need educated parents and proper skills to use technology...
DeleteBeing an educationist I am totally against student carrying heavy weight bags in schools which makes them lose their interested in schools. All students cannot carry heavy bags in a result they seek for help & support i.e. they will ask parents or servant if available to carry/pick their bags, which will bring negative habits in growing children i.e. they will always seek for help when they are in trouble.
ReplyDeleteI highly appreciated Samar for bring this topic in front, in platform where we can discussed the neglected topic. Great job
Children are damaging their spines due to carrying heavy school bags. Its high time we all must raise our voices so that necessary action is taken.
ReplyDeletetotally agree Samer Iqbal! its time for school administration to resolve this serious issue of carrying heavy bags,at times childrens classes are on first floor in school and by pushing pulling they fall rolly polly and get badly hurt.
ReplyDeleteWorld have changed now and we need to upgrade our self within the technology parameters. E-learning and e-technology is the best solution for the time now and schools have started converting themselves to e-learning. Using of technology gadgets will definitely improve their learning and will lesser the burden of books and bags. Although this will not replace the books with the technology or teachers with technology but this will give them new way of learning. They will have e-books on their tabs or laptops and can learn through 1:1 e-learning. I was the part of 1:1 e-learning projects in Pakistan and have deployed 1:1 labs and have seen the interest of using technology from grass root level.
ReplyDeleteWe do not need to take and give feeler of education as a burden to the students. Students of today’s age are very sharp and technology learner but we need to place a system and provide that platform to them for better learning.