In a bid to give students the pleasure of not carrying their heavy bags to schools at least once a month, all government, aided and unaided schools have been directed to observe a ‘bag-less’ day on the last Saturday of every month from June onwards in Udupi district.
The teachers will have to explain curricular and extra-curricular activities by creating awareness on the topics of their subjects on that day. They could also hold quiz programmes, storytelling, elocution, drawing, sports activities and moral science classes on that day.
They could also ask the students to read books in the libraries, hold science lab experiments, make them recite poems in chorus. They can also be given awareness on health issues on that day.
“Our intention is to generate interest among the students in their curricular and extra-curricular activities by making them more interesting and without the burden of carrying heavy bags,” Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) K. Sheshashayana, told The Hindu .
Besides, a ‘bag-less day’ would encourage students to take interest in subjects as they will be taking part in activities related to their subjects instead of merely reading the concepts. “The students will feel definitely feel happy and free as they will not have to carry their bags,” Mr. Sheshashayana said.
A circular has been sent to all 1,254 schools in the district. The department has taken up the ‘bag-less day’ on an experimental basis from this academic year in the district.
Since the emphasis will also be on extracurricular activities, a ‘bag-less day’ is expected to help in widening the horizon of the students. “As the students will be involved in extracurricular activities, it will expose them to the world beyond books. They need not become book-worms. It will help them develop lateral thinking,” said Priyanka Mary Francis, Deputy Commissioner. B. Nirmala, Headmistress, Volakadu Government Composite High School, said that the ‘bag-less day’ was a good initiative from the administration. “Students will be able to take interest in activities which they like instead of studying only the academic subjects. They can also get involved in the activities of various clubs in the school,” she said.
