How ‘Bagless Saturdays’ contribute to children’s holistic growth and well-being

The traditional education system has always focused on academic achievement, emphasizing rote learning and standardized testing. It prepares young people to excel academically, but when it comes to real-world knowledge, this theoretical approach often falls short.

‘Bagless Saturdays’ is a revolutionary approach to modernise the traditional education system. It is an attempt to promote practical and hands-on learning experiences that foster creativity and critical thinking skills.

Ms Ratna Viswanathan, CEO, Reach to Teach said, “The word ‘bagless’ in the context of children brings to mind a visual of a child free to play, laugh and learn. The tyranny of textbooks burdens little children as they necessarily have to carry them in bags on their young backs.”

Widely embraced in public and private schools across the country, ‘Bagless Saturdays’ is implemented in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The new education system of India recommends a 10-day bagless period during Grades 6-8, where students have the opportunity to experience the world outside the classroom, allowing them to develop skills through experiential learning pedagogy, and make learning at school joyful and stress-free.

Sports activities, field trips, art workshops, music and dance sessions, or project-based tinkering exercises in technology labs, the schools are allowed to plan the activities as per their preference.

Ms. Shalini Nambiar, Director Principal, Seth Anandram Jaipuria School, Ghaziabad said, “Bagless days is an excellent initiative to help students take a break from regular academic routine and focus more on the co-curricular aspect of education. Besides intellectual growth of learners, progressive schools are emphasizing on their physical, social and emotional development for which a bagless day is ideal.”

For far too long, the Indian education system was centralized around syllabus and textbooks. Removing bags from the equation promoted conversations beyond the confines of rote learning, fostering holistic development among students. It lifts the burden of heavy backpacks not only from their shoulders but also from their minds, creating space to explore and engage with peers and teachers. This way students also get a chance to relax, socialize, enjoy, re-energize and connect, contributing to their overall well-being.

Underscoring the importance of ‘Bagless Saturdays’ Ratna added, “Prescribed textbooks are linear in their focus with curriculum and syllabus being central to learning. Taking the bag away allows for conversations beyond this, conversations that pertain to what is impacting children’s thinking considering the information overload the virtual world provides and allowing for a space to explore and engage with peers and teachers. This leads to healthy interaction and building of skills and knowledge on how to engage with the world beyond textbooks.”

The initiative also addresses the debate regarding heavy school bags. It is the biggest stereotype associated with education over decades is that heavier bags equal more learning, however, the weight of the bag only adds to the physical and mental load. It stifles the level of curiosity and impedes their creative potential.

Emphasizing the holistic development of children for better future opportunities, Mr Kanak Gupta, Group Director, Seth M.R. Jaipuria Schools said, “As schools aspire to become ‘School of Choice’ for all stakeholders, focus on holistic learning will enable a journey towards becoming a School for greater good in the world with focus on curriculum, extra-curricular, languages, social connect and spiritual growth.”

In the modern world, students need more than theoretical knowledge to succeed. As the demand for the workplace evolves, developing practical skills, critical thinking, and adaptability is the only way to thrive in a rapidly changing world. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs 2023 report suggests that the future job market will prioritize analytical thinking, creative thinking, AI, and big data as top in-demand skills by 2027. To prepare the younger generation for the future workplace, educational systems must integrate these skills into their curricula, fostering an environment that encourages continuous learning and innovation Bagless Saturday is a step towards this goal.

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