School Bags: Burden that discourage learning

Every day, thousands of Nepali kids start their day not with smiles, but with effort—wrestling to carry school packs nearly as heavy as they are.  They are burdens , too heavy on their backs, heavy on their minds, something that may distract them from their quest for education.

We often talk about improving our education system—updating textbooks, revising curricula, integrating technology, and training teachers. But while these big reforms take time, we overlook smaller yet serious issues. One of them is the weight of school bags. And this isn’t just a physical problem—it reflects how we ignore students’ everyday struggles.

Just open a typical school bag. You’ll find books and notebooks for 7 or 8 subjects, a water bottle, lunch box, sometimes drawing tools or dictionaries. The total weight? Often 6 to 10 kilograms, or even more. For a child who weighs just 25 to 30 kilograms, that’s excessive. Would adults carry 30% of their body weight to work every day? No. So why do we expect children to?

Doctors are now seeing the effects. Children are coming to hospitals with back pain, shoulder issues, and poor posture. “We’re treating children for problems we used to see only in adults,” says a child specialist in Patan. “It’s a hidden health crisis.”

The mental and emotional toll is also alarming. According to a child psychologist, heavy school bags can trigger anxiety. “When school feels painful and exhausting, children stop enjoying learning. They start to fear school instead.” This stress affects performance, participation, and in some cases, whether a child wants to attend school at all.

And this isn’t just Nepal’s problem. In India, Pakistan, Bangladesh—even the Philippines—children face the same burden. Despite government rules limiting bag weight, enforcement is rare. Children walk to school not as joyful learners, but as little workers hauling a heavy load.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Look at countries like Finland, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea. In Finland, students leave their books at school and use digital tools. Homework is minimal in early grade. In Japan, children use a sturdy backpack called a randoseru, and schools manage daily loads. Lockers are common. In Singapore and South Korea, tablets are replacing  textbooks, and students have access to storage.

So what’s stopping us?

One simple solution is lockers. But how many schools in Nepal have them? Very few. Why? Because there are no government regulations, no parental pressure, and, unfortunately, not enough concern. As one school principal in Bhaktapur said, “We invest in screens and projectors, but not in our students’ spines.”

It’s time to act.

The Ministry of Education should introduce clear and enforceable guidelines: no child should carry more than 10% of their body weight. Schools must coordinate timetables better, use shared notebooks, install lockers, and support digital learning. And parents—you have a role too. Ask questions, attend school meetings, speak up. Don’t ignore your child’s back pain or fatigue.

A school bag isn’t just a container for books. It reflects how we run our education system—what we prioritize, what we neglect, and how much we expect children to bear. If going to school is harming their health, then we’re failing as a society. Let’s not wait for another report—or another generation of children in pain. Let’s make schools lighter—on their backs, and in spirit. Because when children walk freely, they learn freely. And isn’t that the real purpose of education?