back breaking heavy load carried by school children. AP Govt is trying
to solve this proble. See the news item that appeared in The Hindu
today.
================
Hyderabad: Call it a Children’s Day gift or by any other name,
schoolchildren can now look forward to a cut in their book load. Chief
Minister Y.S. Rajashekhara Reddy hinted at a lighter school bag as one
of the education reforms the Government was thinking of introducing.
The Chief Minister gave this indication in response to an impassioned
plea by a little girl, Samhita, for reducing the burden of schoolbooks
at the Children’s Day celebrations held at Lalita Kala Thoranam here
on Tuesday.
New education policy
Dr. Reddy expressed concern at the overburdened school bag and
wondered how a nine-year-old could carry a 13-kg book load. “Very soon
there will be drop in the weight,” the Chief Minister promised amid
lusty cheers.
The Government, he said, was planning to restructure the education
policy to ensure comprehensive development of children. What was
required was not mere education but quality education. The knowledge
imparted should be of help to others. The country was rich in human
resources and it was imperative that it was used properly, the Chief
Minister said and urged the children to take part in extra-curricular
activities.
School Education Minister N. Rajayalakshmi said the Government was
committed to the eradication of child labour. She said 518 children
had acquired skills in fine arts through the Jawahar Bal Bhavan this
year. In the coming summer, 15 Bala Kendras would be set up and
training imparted to 4,092 children. Though `Cherish the girl child’
is the slogan for this year’s Children’s Day, none made any reference
to it.
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Dr P Vyasamoorthy,
Society for Serving Seniors
(Formerly SENIORS)
30, Gruhalakshmi Colony, Secunderabad 500015
Phone 27846631
80 Books are good travel companions : They don’t nag.