Cyprus Education Ministry issues guidelines on school bag weight

Ahead of the new school year, the Directorate of Primary Education in Cyprus has issued a circular addressing the long-standing issue of heavy school bags. The Ministry aims to mitigate the physical burden placed on students, emphasizing that excessive weight can lead to back pain, muscle soreness, poor posture, and increased risks of injury or balance issues.

Schools are now mandated to implement clear policies tailored to their specific environments to manage and reduce the weight of students' bags. Specific recommendations include prohibiting the binding of multiple notebooks together and encouraging students to carry only necessary textbooks. Furthermore, teachers are advised to allow pupils to keep heavy items such as dictionaries, anthologies, and grammar books at home or in the classroom. Regular sessions will be held to remind both students and parents of these new practices to ensure the long-term health and well-being of the children.