Homework be given to students in accordance with the school bag policy for 2020:- DSEK

Arising State Desk

Srinagar, April 13  : Directorate of School Education department on Thursday impressed upon all school heads to ensure that homework to the students is given as per the school bag policy 2020.

On Thursday, in an effort to ensure that the school heads ensure that the homework given to students is in line with the school bag policy 2020, the Directorate of School Education Department reinforced the school heads to make certain that this is done. In this regard, the Directorate of School Education on Thursday issued a circular according to which :

1. Heavy Homework is a concern, both for students and their parents, since it is generally expected to be done at night and submitted early morning the next day.  There is a detrimental effect of this practice on the playtime of the child, the quality time with the parents, as well as the activities that lead to socialization with the family. There is no room in this system for a teacher to inculcate creativity, critical thinking, and other 21st-century skills among students, as they are envisioned in the National Education Plan-2020.

2. It is often observed that homework beyond their capacity is being given to students while Children should be given an opportunity for creative work at home in which they can take interact with their family members. There is a need for children to be encouraged to read books beyond the curriculum at home to improve their reading habits. Some of these books should be discussed in the school in order to improve children’s reading habits. Book clubs may be opened in the school so that children can get a variety of books free of cost in the school itself.

3. Total Homework time as per School Bag Policy 2020 for Primary Classes up to Class II shall have no homework .

-A  maximum of two hours a week from Classes III-V.

– For Middle School (from Classes VI-VIII), a maximum of one hour a day (about five) to six hours a week).

– For Secondary and Higher Secondary, a maximum of two hours a day (about 10 to 12 hours a week).

-Teachers need to work together to plan and rationalise the amount of homework that they assign to students.

4. All the concerned teachers of a particular class assign homework without coordinating with each other and thus resulting in heavy burden of homework for a student. As such it is impressed upon all the school heads (both Government & Private) to ensure that the homework to the students is given as per the School Bag Policy 2020 replicated above and strictly adhere to the said schedule without any deviation.” the circular reads.