Mumbai : A headmasters’ union has protested against the state government’s decision to hold headmasters and school management responsible if students are found carrying heavy school bags. During a workshop in Kalyan on Sunday, headmasters asked the state government to hold parents equally responsible for the weight of school bags and requested further investment in the education infrastructure of schools.
Earlier this month, on November 5, the school education department of the state government had issued a government resolution (GR) stating that school directors and principals will be held responsible if students are found carrying heavy school bags. The same will come into force from December 1, 2015.
‘Shikshan Katta’, a platform for teachers, had organised the workshop on the school bag issue in Capt Oak High School in Kalyan on Sunday. During the workshop, headmasters said that it is unfair and unjust to hold only headmasters responsible for the weight of school bags.
Shikshan Katta coordinator Anil Bornare said, “It is not fair to hold headmasters responsible for the weight of school bags. Parents are equally guilty in this case. So there should be some provision of punishment for parents also.” He also asked for some time before the new GR is applied.
He said, “Headmasters are afraid that once the deadline is over, education officers will start surprise checks and harass the school management over the weight of school bags. So, they have requested the state government for some more time to sensitise parents about the school bag issue.”
Headmasters have said that the state government should invest in the education infrastructure in schools to reduce the weight of school bags. The state should make provisions for store rooms and lockers for students to keep their heavy books and notebooks.
