AP: No homework to 1st and 2nd Classes students

The State school education department is in the process of implementing The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD)’s recent guidelines, which say no homework should be given to students of Classes 1 and 2 and they should be taught only two subjects, Mathematics and Environmental Science (EVS). Students studying in Classes 3, 4 and 5 should be taught only three subjects, Mathematics, EVS and a language, the guidelines state.

K Sandhya Rani, Commissioner of School Education, said, “We are planning to come up with the best possible way to reduce the weight of school bags that students carry. By the start of the upcoming academic year, we will be ready with a set of guidelines that every school will be instructed to follow.”Earlier this year, the State government had initiated a `1,000 crore worth project aimed at providing lockers in all government schools, but due to lack of space and other problems, the project could not be completed.

The weight of a student’s bag should increase in proportion to the class they study in. 

* Students who study in Classes 1 and 2 should carry bags weighing not more than 1.5 kg,

* those studying in Classes 3, 4 and 5 should carry bags weighting not more than 2-3 kg,

* For students of Classes 6 and 7 the weight of the bags should not be more than 4 kg, 

* For students of Classes 8 and 9 they should not be more than 4.5 

* For students of Class 10, the weight should not cross 5 kg.

 Another set of guidelines, issued by MHRD in 2016, await implementation in the State. According to the guidelines, books should not have hard covers, the number of pages in each book should be limited and the weight of a student’s bag should not exceed 5 kg in any case.