Bengal govt asks schools to strengthen School Bag Policy 2020; reduce burden on students’ shoulders

The Paschim Banga Samagra Shiksha Mission(PBSSM) has asked schools across West Bengal to strengthen implementation of the School Bag Policy(SBP), following concerns over the increasing weight of school bags and its impact on students. The directive links the state-level push to the School Bag Policy 2020 and asks institutions to align classroom practices with existing recommendations.

As per the official PBSSM communication, the advisory highlights that heavy school bags are not just a routine inconvenience but a health concern for school-going children.

Referring to scientific findings, the communication notes that excessive bag weight can affect posture and place strain on muscles in the neck, shoulders and back. It also points out that children may face difficulty carrying, lifting or handling overloaded bags.

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One of the recommendations in the guideline is that the weight of a school bag should remain within a reasonable limit. It specifically reiterates that school bags should be kept at “10 per cent of the body weight”.

What is School Bag Policy 2020?

The School Bag Policy 2020 is a framework issued by the Ministry of Education to reduce excessive school bag weight and protect children from physical strain.

SBP focuses on managing how much load children carry to school and improving school-level practices. The key guidelines of SBP 2020 as per the ministry of education are;

• School bags should ideally remain within 10% of a child’s body weight.
• Schools are expected to rationalise bag weight by reducing unnecessary books/material.
• It pushes for strict implementation by schools and education authorities.
• The policy treats school bag weight as part of student safety and well-being, not just school routine.
• It aligns with broader school reforms and child-friendly education practices.

On May 11 the ministry circulated the communication to states, union territories and asked them to reinforce the guidelines for stricter implementation.