Abu Dhabi: Primary school pupils should not carry school bags heavier than 10 per cent of their body weight in order to ensure their health and safety, education officials have said.
The emirate of Abu Dhabi’s education sector regulator, the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec), specifies that this means bags for primary school pupils should not exceed 480 grams, while those for middle and high school children should be 580 grams or lighter.
In directives issued by the Adec earlier, education officials stressed that schools bags can put “an unhealthy strain on children’s backs if they become too heavy”. Children were therefore urged only to carry books that they need for the day.
Most importantly, parents are advised not to take schoolbag-related pains lightly but to consult specialist doctors if children complain of pain.
For loads that become too heavy to carry, parents should consider buying a bag with wheels. Other recommendations include the need to ensure that the bag is not wider than the child’s shoulders, and that its lowest point when carried is less than 10cm under the hips.
A front belt that can be wrapped around the waist for even distribution of the weight is advised, while shoulder straps that are wide and lined can avoid pressure on muscles.
While parents should ensure that children do not pack unnecessary items in their bags, schools are also urged to provide lockers for all children and teachers should be mindful of the books that need to be carried when setting the daily schedule. Classes for first to sixth grades should also be on the ground floor so that young children who are prone to bag-related injuries do not have to climb stairs.
