'Same rule must also apply for other classes'

Mumbai: According to parents, the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE’s) decision to stop giving homework to Class 1 and 2 students of all affiliated schools is right but they also feel that “it should not be limited only to primary section students”. They are of the view that time spent outside the school should be more about the world, families and friends and not just homework.

Homework given by schools includes revision, handwriting/language practice (for the primary section), and solving the Q&A section of every chapter in subjects like science, history and geography. Also, students who attend private coaching classes, home tuitions or any other extracurricular activity get another set of homework. “All this burdens the children and impacts both their physical and mental state. Confined to chairs and tables for long hours create problems for children’s backs, not to mention the stress that worsens their mental state. Both schools and parents should rectify these things because the children don’t realise and hence, fail to convey it to their caretakers,” said Reinki Janki, a retired teacher.

Furthermore, schools give students projects and assignments almost every week. A parent whose son is currently in Class 9 said, “We are talking about homework ban on Class 1 and 2 students but what about other Class students? They go through stress and work more than us adults. For us, we can make up some excuse s but children are paranoid about doing their homework. The government and the board should also consider other age group students as well.”

Parents questioned, “Why should there be homework when a student tends to spend five to six hours a day at school.”