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Following is a question by the Hon Gary Cheng Kai-nam and a reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Joseph W P Wong, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Experts have pointed out that the weight of schoolbag carried by a primary school student should not exceed one-tenth of the student's body weight. However, according to a sample survey on the weight of schoolbags carried to schools by primary school students conducted at the beginning of the current school term, 82% and 56% of half-day and full-time primary school students respectively carry schoolbags which exceed the weight limit suggested by experts. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) whether it will stipulate a ratio between the body weight of primary school students and the weight of schoolbags; and

(b) whether it has assessed if the measures now being adopted, such as suggesting improvements to the design of textbooks; providing students with lockers at schools; and issuing guidelines to schools on the quantity of textbooks and exercise books to be brought to schools by students, have effectively address the issue; if the measures are not effective, the reasons for this; and whether it has other effective measures to thoroughly address the issue?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) We understand that a number of experts consider that as a general rule, the weight of a student's schoolbag should not exceed one-tenth of his body weight. We are seeking views from the Department of Health and will also make reference to the experiences of nearby regions, with a view to deciding whether to include in the guidelines to schools to be issued in the current school year, an ideal ratio of a student's body weight to his schoolbag weight, as well as the average weights of students of different ages, as reference for schools to facilitate textbook selection and timetabling.

(b) In the past years, the Education Department (ED) introduced a number of measures to tackle the problem of overweight schoolbags. These measures include providing lockers to schools; issuing guidelines to remind schools to take account of textbook weight in textbook selection and timetabling; reminding schools and parents to help students develop the habit of packing schoolbag everyday, and to give guidance to students so that they do not carry unnecessary textbooks and other items to schools; encouraging students to use light and endurable schoolbags, pencil-cases and stationery; and urging publishers to separate textbooks into volumes, to print textbooks and exercise books separately, and to use lightweight paper, etc.

Of the measures adopted, those with more obvious results include the separation of textbooks into volumes and the separate publication of textbooks and exercise books. The percentage of primary school textbooks separated into volumes has increased from 83.34% in 1989 to 100% in 1991. Moreover, over 85% of primary schools have installed lockers.

There are many factors determining schoolbag weight, including textbook weight, subject mix, timetabling, exercise books/workbooks, and students' habits, etc. Therefore, in order to fully address the problem of overweight schoolbags, we consider it necessary for schools, publishers, teachers, parents and students to make concerted efforts. At the same time, the ED will study ways to tackle the problem, including measures to increase the awareness of the issue among concerned parties. Apart from the guidelines to schools which I have just mentioned, the ED will, through conducting surveys on schools and students, evaluate the effectiveness of existing measures and make improvements where appropriate. For example, the ED will study the utilisation of lockers in schools and actively remind teachers that they should provide guidance to students, especially primary school students, on ways to more fully utilise their lockers, etc.

Should the ED decide to include in the guidelines to schools an ideal ratio of a student's body weight to his schoolbag weight, as well as the average weights of students of different ages, the same information would also be made available to publishers for reference. They will also be encouraged to use lighter papers for textbook printing.

Lastly, the ED will liaise with the Committee on Home-School Co-operation to promote parents' awareness of schoolbag weight, so that they can join efforts with the schools.

End/Wednesday, September 23, 1998

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