A crippling nexus

This refers to the news report ‘Perturbed by his patients’ pain, doctor speaks out against heavy school bags’ (March 19). It is indeed a matter of serious concern that children have to carry heavy school bags at such a tender age. As a result, most children suffer severe pains in their neck, shoulders and lower back. Unfortunately, it is not the desire to educate children that dominates this practice. It is instead the school-publisher nexus. Most of the schools have designated textbook publishers from whom the students are directed to buy their course books, generating hefty profits for both the school and the publishers.

The head of the Government of Sindh’s Education and Literacy Department, the Sindh governor as well as all private school owners should pay attention to this issue. All the concerned authorities need to take concrete measures to reduce the number of textbooks that children have to carry each day. The authorities should also impose a fine of Rs1 million on schools whose children are found carrying heavy school bags.

Ashfaq Sharif

Karachi