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In an effort to draw attention to the issue, mom Nazrana wrote to us about how heavy school bags are hurting learners.
She told us she has been fighting to get rid of this issue for about 6 years now, but to no avail.
Also read: Is your child's school bag too heavy?
Nazrana suggests that learners have a book bag at the back of their chairs, so that all books they don't need to take home stay at the back of the chair at the end of the day. Another option she thinks would work is for teachers to keep the text books and note books that students do not have to use for homework that day, at school.
"Finally, after all my complaining, the principal at my child's school just implemented a new rule at the school that keeps the kids in the same class the entire day and the teachers move around," she told Parent24.
"The teachers moving around instead of kids was one of the solutions that I gave them, when I was asked for solutions to the problem. However, there is still a problem as the kids that are walking are still carrying a heavy load to school and back," she says.
The kids she sees with heavy bags are aged from 10 years to 16 years, in Grade 5 to Grade 10, and they're carrying bags that weight 5kg to 6kg - or more.
"How long must these poor kids suffer before the principal and teachers realize the harm heavy bags are posing to their health?"she asks. "Something needs to be done immediately or we are going to have a country full of kids growing up to suffer with back ailments or worse."
Also read: Tips for a good school backpack
"My child is already complaining of back pain," Nazrana reveals, "even though I drop and pick her up from school. Imagine the suffering of the kids that don't have transport, especially in the hilly area we live in. I really feel so sorry for them."
She shares that her nephews, who attend other schools, also plead with her to try and do something for them at their school regarding the heavy school bag issue.
"We need to make an arrangement for all schools in South Africa, so our kids do not have to suffer any longer. It is so simple, yet teachers and principals refuse to implement it, as they fail to realize how it could benefit our kids in the long run," she says.
"Please, let us work together to implement this in all schools ASAP, as I personally know our kids have suffered enough with this torture."
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