Termed a significant step in the direction of making the educational experience for classes 6 to 8 more joyful, experiential, and stress-free, the Union Education Ministry has come out with new guidelines for implementing 10 bagless days. The scheme was announced on July 29, 2024, on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the National Education Policy, NEP 2020.

The Vision Behind Bagless Days

The concept of bagless days, essentially, draws inspiration from the NEP 2020 vision of incorporating vocational education within the school curriculum. Guidelines developed by the PSS Central Institute of Vocational Education clearly underline that these days cannot just be an add-on to the regular curriculum; in fact, they must form a part of the continuum of teaching and learning. It aims at bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and its practical application by opening up a range of possible vocational skills applicable in their future career choices.

For these 10 bagless days, the children will engage in hands-on experiences with local vocational experts in carpentry, pottery, and gardening. The goal is to give them a taste of some basic skills and crafts relevant to local needs .

Activity-based Experiences and Learning Processes

Activities lined up for bagless days are varied and exciting. Children will be allowed to pursue some enjoyable courses in vocational crafts like carpentry, metal work, and pottery making, etc. The guidelines also recommend experiential learning through visits to vegetable markets, charity organisations, biogas plants, and solar energy parks.

These activities aim at really onsite young learners with the world around them and thus enable students to develop a sense of the greater ecosystem within which their school operates. Through participation in activities led by local craftsmen/artisans, students learn new skills but also appreciate the nature of work involved in these trades and begin to understand the options available to them in choosing careers.

A Holistic Approach to Education

Bagless days, in a way, form one step of that extensive process to transform the educational scenario in India. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan mentioned that NEP 2020 foresaw an environment of vibrant learning and outcome-oriented vision in its endeavour to transform the learning process to empower students to harness India’s demographic dividend by catalysing socio-economic growth.

Apart from the no-bag days, some of the other activities that the ministry has come out with are television channels devoted exclusively to learning Indian languages, career guidance guidelines, and resources for early graders in multiple languages. Indeed, these were steps in the right direction toward a much more inclusive and effective educational framework.

Conclusion

The introduction of bagless days from classes 6-8 assumes great significance in making education more experiential and practical in the country. It is believed that, on the system’s disposition, it can bring forth a new generation of learners with the requisite knowledge and skills of learning for the future. As the country further upholds the NEP 2020, it is envisioned to create a more holistic and enriching experience for every learner.