The pressure of books on children will not ease anytime soon! Academic specialists feel that the focus has to be on academic content and not the number of books to lessen.
The pressure on the children is not physical it’s also psychological, specialists feel.
On Dec 8, 2016, a joint bench of justices Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Ashish Ranjan Das ordered a specific law to ease the burden of school bags. The secretaries of education, law, mass education were ordered to pass a law in this regard. However, that did not happen in two years and, currently, a contempt of court order is awaiting hearing.
Barrister Masud Hossain Dolon, said: “We lodged a case for contempt of court but constantly face questions from the children as to why we could not ease the burden of heavy school bags.”
Speaking on the matter, Law Minister Anisul Huq, said: “I am also aware of the matter and feel that our children should not carry heavy burdens; but at the same time, the court said that the matter can be solved by issuing a circular which is being done, therefore, we need to discuss to ascertain if the law is needed or not.”
Chairman of National Curriculum Textbook Board Chairman, Narayan Chandra Saha, said: “Next year, the children will get specially revised books and the number will also be reduced. Work is underway to amalgamate certain books.”
Founder of Easy Read, Siddik Belal, feels that children often face psychological pressure.
The content has to be fixed first instead of reducing the number of books, he added.
“A system where children are not forced to take extra tuition classes will ease their burden.”
On Dec 21 last year, the prime minister asked for easing exam pressure on children. But so far, the primary and mass education ministry did not take any initiatives on the matter.