Law soon to do away with homework for classes I, II

The Centre will bring in a bill to ensure that schools do not assign homework to students of Classes I and II, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said.

His remarks came in the wake of an interim order of the Madras High Court on May 30 asking the Centre to instruct state governments to reduce the weight of school bags and do away with homework for Classes I and II.

Javadekar said he believed there cannot be learning without fun.

“I welcome the decision (of the court). We are studying the order and will definitely do whatever is required,” he told a press conference here on Saturday.

The Union minister said the Centre will bring a no-homework bill in the Monsoon Session of the Parliament in compliance with the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, and hoped it will be passed.

“... Children should not be put under any pressure. We will do whatever is required to lessen the pressure on children in compliance with the court order,” Javadekar said.

Noting that children are neither weightlifters nor schoolbags loaded containers, the high court had asked the state government to ensure that the weight of the satchels should not be more than 10% of the child’s weight.

Justice N Kirubakaran had also directed the Centre to instruct the state governments not to prescribe any other subjects except language and mathematics for Classes I and II.