No Bag Day, an innovate practice of the Department of Public Instruction, which aims to generate interest among students in curricular and extra-curricular activities without the burden of carrying heavy bags, was implemented in Chikkaballapur district on Saturday on an experimental basis.
Hundreds of students were seen reaching schools with smiling faces without carrying heavy bags.
The department has directed all government, aided and unaided schools to observe the No Bag Day on last Saturday of every month from June this year.
At many schools, teachers explained curricular and extra-curricular activities by creating awareness on topics of their subjects.
At a few schools, there were quiz programmes, drawing, storytelling, elocution, moral science classes and sports activities.
A few teachers took students to libraries for reading purpose and held science lab experiments.
Many students recited poems in chorus and enjoyed the session.
R Shivanna Reddy, Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI), said: "No Bag Day is observed on the last Saturday of every month. Students may engage in activities of their choices."
"Our emphasis is on extracurricular activities. The initiative helps in widening the horizon of the students as students are involved in extracurricular activities. This will also expose them to the world beyond textbooks," he said.
ZP President H V Manjunath said: "If the initiative is found to be successful, we will observe the No Bag Day on all Saturdays. However, we will take the feedback from students, teachers and parents before taking a decision."
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