MUMBAI: Despite parents being in favour of the integrated text-cum-note books introduced this year on a pilot basis, only a quarter of them felt it has helped reduce the burden of school bags.
An online survey on the integrated text-cum-note books in October by the state bureau of textbooks ‘Balbharati’ found that parents continue to send children to school with additional notebooks.The integrated textbooks — four sets, each having all subjects per quarter — for class 1 to 8 students were introduced in June to reduce the weight of school bags. Schools, teachers and parents were told to ensure children carry only one integrated book per quarter.
Following complaints of the textbooks quality, including pages tearing apart due to multiple handling of a single book in a quarter, the online survey of parents, teachers and students was conducted.
Over 71% of the 14,000-plus parents said integrated textbooks have not reduced the weight of school bags. Less than half of the parents (38%) felt that weight of school bags had partially reduced.
Over 81% parents said they still send children to school with four note books, in addition to the integrated book. In case of the integrated textbooks, too, 17% parents said their children carry all the four parts to schools daily. Another 25% parents said their children carry two parts. While students are expected to carry a book per quarter, parents say it is teachers who ask students to carry two to three parts, de pending on what chapter they want to teach. Teachers of higher classes admit they do not necessarily teach lessons chapter-wise.
While notebooks and textbooks contribute to most of the weight of school bags, only 77.64% parents said their children carry tiffins and 85.47% said students carry water bottles and compass box (90%) that add to the weight of bags. Majority of teachers (97%), however, said in the survey that the burden of the school bag has reduced. This, despite them admitting that separate notebooks are used during class work by over 90% students.
Separate notebooks are used on a large scale by students from class 5, followed by 3and 8. Over 23% teachers feel the blank pages are not as per the scope of the subject. For instance, teachers say subjects like maths and science n eed more blank pages. However, the survey found that only 47% students have used up all the blank pages provided after each lesson. Integrated textbooks are expected to be made compulsory in private schools next year.
An online survey on the integrated text-cum-note books in October by the state bureau of textbooks ‘Balbharati’ found that parents continue to send children to school with additional notebooks.The integrated textbooks — four sets, each having all subjects per quarter — for class 1 to 8 students were introduced in June to reduce the weight of school bags. Schools, teachers and parents were told to ensure children carry only one integrated book per quarter.
Following complaints of the textbooks quality, including pages tearing apart due to multiple handling of a single book in a quarter, the online survey of parents, teachers and students was conducted.
Over 71% of the 14,000-plus parents said integrated textbooks have not reduced the weight of school bags. Less than half of the parents (38%) felt that weight of school bags had partially reduced.
Over 81% parents said they still send children to school with four note books, in addition to the integrated book. In case of the integrated textbooks, too, 17% parents said their children carry all the four parts to schools daily. Another 25% parents said their children carry two parts. While students are expected to carry a book per quarter, parents say it is teachers who ask students to carry two to three parts, de pending on what chapter they want to teach. Teachers of higher classes admit they do not necessarily teach lessons chapter-wise.
While notebooks and textbooks contribute to most of the weight of school bags, only 77.64% parents said their children carry tiffins and 85.47% said students carry water bottles and compass box (90%) that add to the weight of bags. Majority of teachers (97%), however, said in the survey that the burden of the school bag has reduced. This, despite them admitting that separate notebooks are used during class work by over 90% students.
Separate notebooks are used on a large scale by students from class 5, followed by 3and 8. Over 23% teachers feel the blank pages are not as per the scope of the subject. For instance, teachers say subjects like maths and science n eed more blank pages. However, the survey found that only 47% students have used up all the blank pages provided after each lesson. Integrated textbooks are expected to be made compulsory in private schools next year.
