Backpacks should weigh between five and 10 percent of a student's body weight, per a directive published by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek). Many parents who had long worried about the negative effects hefty backpacks were causing on their children have embraced this action.

Schools have responded to the new rules by using several approaches to assist with load lightening. The launch of digital books and online resources has been a big step towards greatly lessening of students' requirement to carry several textbooks. Emphasizing the value of e-books, David Craggs, vice-principal of GEMS World Academy in Abu Dhabi, said that pupils today simply need a digital device to access all their study resources. Using bulky paper textbooks has been reduced since digital resources are now easily available on several platforms.

Using modular books can be another useful strategy, Craggs also noted. With this approach, students may carry just the required chapters for their classes instead of whole textbooks. School libraries have also grown to be a valuable tool since they let students borrow actual books as needed, therefore lessening the daily book count they have to carry.

School lockers—where students may keep their books rather than lugging them back and forth—are another tactic under consideration. But depending just on lockers could cause problems, claims Abhilasha Singh, principal of Shining Star International School in Abu Dhabi. If their books are left at school, students could find it difficult to finish their homework or study for tests, Many institutions have responded to this by offering digital substitutes such online portals and downloadable assignments. This lets pupils access study tools and homework without having to lug actual books home.

Singh said that clear systems and locker use organization will enable pupils to know which books to leave at school and which to bring home. Al Muroor, a homework schedule at Abu Dhabi Indian School, makes sure pupils only bring home the books they require for their assignments—leaving the rest in their lockers, Principal Neeraj Bhargava thinks this technique has enabled pupils better control of their backpack weight.

Health studies have led to the worry over big backpacks as they have shown that carrying more than 10 to 15 percent of a person's body weight can cause back pain, shoulder strain, and even spinal misalignment, Pediatrician Dr. Sherif Mohamed Mosaad Kamel of Zulekha Hospital in Dubai underlined that backpacks for young pupils should ideally weigh between 1.5 and 2.5 kg, or around 10 percent of their body weight, Children should nonetheless follow the advised limitations even if their bags may weigh somewhat more in relation to their physical growth as they get older and reach higher grades.

Students in Grades 7 through 9, for instance, should carry no more than 5 to 7 kilograms, about 12 to 15 percent of their total weight. Although senior students in Grades 10 through 12 can manage bags up to 7 to 8 kg, even then it should not be more than 15 percent of their body weight. Kamel underlined that even if older children might have more allowance, the emphasis should always be on keeping reasonable boundaries for every student to avoid long-term physical problems.

Kamel advised educational institutions to keep refining plans to lessen the weight of bulky backpacks, Schools can better support students' health and well-being by pushing the use of digital textbooks, lockers, and regulations including assignment scheduling. Children's physical development will benefit from their not being encumbered with large bags, so avoiding needless strain on their developing muscles and bones.

Abu Dhabi Schools announces new E-books and Homework Rules

Comments