Muscat: In line with the Ministry of Education's commitment to ensure holistic development of Omani students across various educational stages, the Ministry has intensified efforts to address the issue of "school bag weight," particularly for students in grades 1 to 4.
Research has highlighted the health risks associated with carrying heavy bags, including back deformities, spinal issues, and bone sprains, as well as potential gait disturbances that could lead to falls and injuries. Additionally, the strain of carrying heavy bags may result in mental distraction, aversion to studying, and long-term psychological and academic challenges.
To mitigate these risks, the ministry has implemented measures to reduce the load of school bags for young students. A recent directive limits students in the first cycle to only two notebooks of 80 pages each—one for the first field and another for the second field — and prohibits the use of external binders or booklets beyond the official textbooks provided by the ministry.
This initiative aims to address the excessive weight of school bags and curb the common practice of requiring multiple notebooks in these early grades.
To further ease the burden, the ministry has introduced lockers in schools for students to store their books, minimising the need to carry them home daily.
Teachers are now coordinating homework assignments, and students, along with their parents, are encouraged to utilise electronic textbooks available on the educational portal.
Continuous monitoring by specialists in various educational directorates across the governorates is also emphasised.
Parents have welcomed these measures. Sheikha al Ghailani stressed the importance of alleviating the burden on young children and urged teachers to prioritise student comfort, especially during the foundational years, due to the potential long-term harm.
Ahmed al Balushi, a parent of two foundation-stage students, emphasised his vigilance in ensuring his children's bags do not exceed the recommended weight. He also opts for wheeled bags to make it easier for his children to transport them.
Concerns have been raised about the quality of materials used in school bags, as some available in the local market are heavy and uncomfortable, lacking the necessary health specifications.
To address this, authorities have set guidelines for selecting student-friendly bags. They should be lightweight, with the total weight (including contents) not exceeding 10 per cent of the student's body weight.
The bags should have wide, padded shoulder straps that are adjustable to fit the student properly, multiple pockets to help distribute weight, and should cover the upper back down to the end of the ribs without extending below the waist.
Educating students on the proper handling of their school bags is also crucial. They should be taught to organise the contents according to the school schedule, with heavier items placed towards the back and lighter items at the front, using all pockets to distribute weight evenly.
The correct way to carry the bag is on both shoulders, with the straps adjusted so that the bag rests on the waist. Students should place the bag on the ground when waiting for the bus or during the morning assembly and carry the lunch bag separately to avoid overloading the school bag.
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