Karnataka govt slashes textbooks size by 50%; lightens school bag burden

To reduce the number of textbooks by 50 per cent for students in classes 1 to 10, the government has implemented several measures such as spreading chapters across multiple books than one. The measures will be implemented starting from the academic year 2024-25.

The Karnataka government has taken an important step to lighten up the heavy bags of school students. To reduce the number of textbooks by 50 per cent for students in classes 1 to 10, the government has implemented several measures such as spreading chapters across multiple books than one. The measures will be implemented starting from the academic year 2024-25. This decision aims to promote a scientifically structured approach to learning while addressing concerns about the physical strain on students.

Students to be provided with two books annually

Under the new directive, the course will be divided into two books. Instead of providing all textbooks at once for the entire academic year, students will receive two books annually. These will be distributed as per the Summative Assessment (SA-1 and SA-2), effectively splitting the content and lightening the load for students.

In terms of financial implications, the Karnataka Textbooks Society (KTBS) printed a total of 566 titles and 6, 39,83,899 textbooks for INR 323,31,93,175 in the academic year 2023-24. Following the new recommendation, textbooks for SA-1 and SA-2 will be printed separately, with an estimated cost of INR 8, 45,72,950 for the additional titles.

The official order issued by the State Government reflects the culmination of efforts by a committee formed in 2019. Comprising education experts, pediatricians, doctors, legal advisors, and officials from the Department of State Education Research and Training (DSERT), the committee conducted a thorough study on reducing the burden of school bags.

The need for action was highlighted in a meeting led by the Commissioner of the Department of School Education on October 6, 2023. Subsequently, a committee chaired by the Director of the Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board recommended a 50 per cent reduction in textbook size. The committee’s report was submitted to the government on October 12, 2023.

School bag weight check ordered 

Recognising that the weight of school bags is not solely attributed to textbooks, the committee proposed a school-level check on the weight of each child’s bag. Schools are urged to ensure that only subject textbooks and notebooks are carried, with additional measures suggested for managing other materials in a separate rough notebook.

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