Sri Lanka Standards
Institute (SLSI) has developed standards for schoolbags. With the objective of
minimizing negative health effects and assuring a high physical quality and
durable schoolbags for parents, these standards were finalized by a working
group represented by different sectors including paediatricians, community
physicians, education authorities, ergonomists, textile engineers and bag
manufactures. Major features of a standard schoolbag include; backpack model,
two compartments, padded and wide shoulder straps, waist belt, movable buckles
and quality raw materials. These bags are specified in five different sizes to
match with children body.
An awareness meeting
for bag manufacturers on new standards was held at the Auditorium of Sri Lanka
Standards Institute recently. More than eighty bag manufacturers participated
at this workshop.
Dr. Priyadarshani
Talgaswatte, Deputy Director General of SLSI explained the objectives of the
workshop and said that the draft standards were even made available for public
comments prior to the finalization. She speculated the possibility of making
the SLS standards compulsory considering the circumstances in coming years.
Dr. Kapila Jayaratne,
Consultant Community Physician and the chairperson of the Expert Committee on
Ergonomics of Sri Lanka Medical Association who pioneered the healthy schoolbag
campaign in Sri Lanka described the medical aspects of inclusion of different
features of the schoolbag. Dr. Jayaratne functioned as the chairman of the
working group on developing standards for schoolbags. He said ergonomic
schoolbag is a healthy choice and requested bag manufacturers to make the healthy
bag available in the market.
Mr. K.D. Bandula,
Assistant Education Commissioner of Education Publication Department presented
the role of the Ministry of Education in introducing the healthy schoolbag. He
said that a new circular will be issued to more popularize the healthy bag
among children, parents, teachers and school authorities.
Mrs Chandima Mallawasekara,
Assistant Director, SLSI, described in detail different standards introduced
for schoolbag. Deputy Director, SLSI, Mr. Wijaya Tissera explained the
participants the mechanisms used to control the quality of standards for
schoolbags.
Mrs. Sujatha
Wijesinghe, a leading bag manufacturer, elaborated on maneuvers that can be
adopted in producing schoolbags in accordance with new standards.
This was the first of
a series of bag manufacturer awareness workshops launched by SLSI.
