State government-run schools in Hyderabad have introduced a 10-day ‘Bagless Days’ initiative based on the School Bag Policy-2020. The State Council for Education, Research and Training (SCERT) has included this plan in the Academic Calendar for the academic years 2022-23 and 2023-24.
According to United Teachers Federation (UTF) leader Chava Ravi, SCERT did not consult with teachers, parents, or students before finalizing the syllabus or textbooks. This lack of communication has raised concerns among educators.
SCERT has released a 102-page ‘activity manual’ for implementing the 10 Bagless Days for Classes I-X. The manual, prepared by an 11-member teacher’s team, includes projects, field visits, demonstrations, experiments, and role-playing activities to enhance learning experiences and skill development. It also encourages students to learn from local vocational experts like carpenters, gardeners, and potters.
However, the manual places the burden on school principals to provide resources like pencils, crayons, drawing sheets, fruits, and vegetables for the activities. Some headmasters have expressed financial challenges in funding these resources, as there are no specific funds allocated for the Bagless Days initiative.
In Adilabad town, a school headmaster highlighted the difficulties faced by schools in procuring basic supplies like chalkpieces or updating blackboards. Without additional funding support, teachers and headmasters may need to cover these costs out of their own pockets.
