The Assam government has set May 30 as the deadline for schools to abide by Madras High Court’s guidelines on weight of school bags.

Education minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya said on Monday that after May 30, the government would carry out inspections in schools to ensure that weight of school bags are within the prescribed limit.

“We will be strict after May 30. Meanwhile, schools should prepare themselves and we will be ready administratively,” he said.

Accompanied by mediapersons, Bhattacharya inspected Panbazar Adarsha LP School and Noonmati High School as the two institutions had complained of infrastructure problems. The minister assured that assistance would be extended to the schools to develop infrastructure.

Last year, the Assam government had set guidelines on the maximum weight of school bags following a Madras High Court order on the load a child can carry.

A notification of the state education department has said the maximum weight of school bags is 1.5kg for classes I and II, 2kg to 3kg for classes III to V, 4kg for classes VI and VII, 4.5kg for classes VIII and IX and 5kg for class X.

The notification said homework will not be assigned to the students of classes I and II and schools should not prescribe any other subject except language and mathematics for students of these classes.

Language, environment science and mathematics are prescribed for classes III to V by National Council of Educational Research and Training/State Council of Educational Research and Training, Delhi.

“Schools prescribing homework and non-prescribed subjects for classes I to V will be disaffiliated,” the notification said.

Bhattacharya said announcement of the results of class XII board examination was affected by engagement of teachers and officials of the education department in election duty. “However, it will be announced before announcement of the Lok Sabha election results on May 23,” he added.

Bhattacharya said some private schools were increasing their fees. “This is not acceptable. We will have to control it. Teachers of private schools are paid less than that of government schools. But poor performance of government schools is a concern for us,” he added.

The minister added that 200ml of milk will be served to each of 250 students of different city schools every day by rotation.

The education department has constituted special squads to inspect the schools and prevent the use of non-prescribed books.

The district-level special squads will have the deputy commissioner as their chairman, the inspector of schools as member secretary and four members, superintendent of police, district elementary education officer, district social welfare officer and an educationist nominated by the deputy commissioner.

Norms checklist

What Section 29 of the Right to Education Act, 2010, says Weight of school bags must be reduced to ease the burden on students

National Council of Educational Research and Training guidelines

• Students of classes I and II should carry two textbooks, English and math
• Students of classes III to V should carry three textbooks

Central Board of Secondary Education guidelines

Students from Nursery to class II should not carry bags and books should be kept in schools itself

Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan across India stipulates

• Weight of school bags for students of classes I and II should not be more than 2kg
• Weight of school bags for students for classes III and IV should be less than 3kg
• Weight of school bags for students for classes V to VIII should not be more than 4kg
• Weight of school bags for students for classes IX to XII should not be more than 5kg