In Guna, Madhya Pradesh, the government has implemented a significant change in its schools, mandating that students up to grade 4 will no longer be assigned homework.
This initiative aims to reduce school bag weight and improve the learning environment for young students. According to the new regulations, students in grade 5 will have a maximum of 2 hours of homework per week. Students in grades 6 to 8 will be given up to 1 hour of homework daily, while those in grades 9 to 12 will be limited to 2 hours daily.
The government has also introduced unified guidelines for grades 1-2 and 3-4, which include a weekly lesson plan for Hindi, Mathematics, and English, emphasizing practical learning through hands-on activities and experiments. Furthermore, schools are instructed to designate one day each week as “Bag-Free Day,” during which students will not need to bring their bags. This day will be dedicated to vocational and co-curricular activities.
Despite these directives, private schools in Guna have been slow to implement the changes. These institutions have not fully adopted an order from the Ministry of Human Resource Development issued on November 24, 2020, and subsequent reminders, including a High Court directive on May 15, 2024.
The government has warned that non-compliance will lead to inquiries by the Block Education Officer and potential penalties. Chandrashekhar Sisodia, District Education Officer, stressed that while government schools adhere to the new policy, private schools must comply to avoid further action.
