In order to reduce the physical burden on elementary school students who have to carry heavy schoolbags, the Ministry of Education will introduce measures such as providing lockers at schools, Deputy Minister of Education Wu Tsai-shun (吳財順) said yesterday.
Wu made the remarks while briefing a group of Taiwan Solidarity Union legislators who raised the issue of hefty schoolbags.
During the meeting, the legislators weighed a sample schoolbag packed with a typical elementary school student's supplies, and found that it was as heavy as 15kg.
PHOTO: SUNG CHIH-HSIUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
In addition to necessities such as a water canteen, pencil case, coloring pencils and textbooks, the bag was stuffed with reference books handed out by cram schools, which most students attend after their normal school day.
Wu said that to address the problem, the ministry has ordered education authorities in 25 counties and cities to install lockers in elementary schools.
It has also demanded that teachers abide by their class schedules so that students do not have to bring unnecessary textbooks to school.
The ministry will also promote a book loan program for the next academic year, Wu said.
Wu urged parents and teachers to examine schoolbags on a daily basis and ask them to take out unnecessary materials in order to reduce the burden.
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