By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: Authorities in Kamrup Metropolitan have directed all schools to strictly adhere to prescribed school bag weight limits, with officials warning that institutions found violating the norms could face action.
The directive, issued by Inspector of Schools Dipika Choudhury on Monday, seeks to ease the burden on students and ensure compliance with guidelines laid down by the Assam government, the Gauhati High Court and the Centre. The move comes after similar measures were implemented in several other districts of the state.
Under the revised enforcement framework, students of Classes I and II are permitted to carry school bags weighing no more than 1.5 kg. For Classes III to V, the prescribed range is between 2 kg and 3 kg. Students in Classes VI and VII must limit the weight of their bags to 4 kg, while those studying in Classes VIII and IX are allowed up to 4.5 kg. The upper limit for Class X students has been fixed at 5 kg.
The regulations apply uniformly to government, provincialised, and private educational institutions across the district.
In addition to observing the weight norms, schools have been instructed to take proactive steps to minimise unnecessary load on students. Teachers and school authorities must clearly inform students about the books and notebooks required for each day so that they do not carry excess study materials.
The order also emphasises strict adherence to approved academic schedules and directs institutions to avoid prescribing supplementary books or learning materials that are not part of the SCERT or NCERT curriculum.
To promote healthier practices, schools have been asked to educate students on the correct way to carry school bags, including the use of both shoulder straps. Authorities have further recommended awareness and counselling programmes involving parents, teachers, and students to address concerns related to excessive bag weight.
School heads have been assigned responsibility for enforcing the guidelines and maintaining necessary records. Compliance will be monitored through regular inspections and surprise visits conducted by district-level teams.
Officials stated that any institution found flouting the norms would be liable for appropriate action. Schools have also been instructed to disseminate the guidelines among staff, students and parents to facilitate immediate implementation.