KPK Administration Failed to Reduce Burden of Heavy School Bags

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly passed the School Bags Bill for the first time in Pakistan in December 2020, but almost 90 percent of educational institutions have yet to implement it.

Older generations used to say a child with a heavy bag was unfit, and responsible students should keep books and copies at home as per the schedule.

Over time, especially with private schools, the burden of education on children has become so great that fewer and fewer schools exist. Unwillingly, parents have to carry heavy burdens on their children's delicate shoulders in the form of bags.

For the first time in Pakistan, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly passed the 'School Bags Bill' in December 2020, requiring separate weight bags for every class at schools as well as fines for violators. A fine of up to Rs. 2 lakh may also be imposed.

However, the government has taken note that about 90% of the educational institutions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are not implementing the 'Bastha Law', despite receiving a lot of support initially.

A series of checks and punishments will be implemented from the new academic year.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education Department says he has discussed this matter with the head of Private Schools Regulatory Authority (PSRA) and has asked all private educational institutions to follow government instructions very soon.

The letter of approval will be issued as soon as possible.

The curriculum of private schools includes a lot of books, according to parents concerned about the weight of their children's bags. In addition, their notebooks are separate, resulting in a nest that weighs more than the child himself.

Putting such a substantial burden on the minds of children at such a young age affects not only their physical and mental development, but also their mental health. A child's bag should not weigh more than ten percent of their body weight, according to psychologists and educators.