A number of schools in Doha are trying to come up with measures to ease students’ burden of carrying heavy bags, a practice that many doctors say can cause long-term health problems.
One of the options is to use the services of “cadets”, or senior pupils, to carry the bags of younger students.
“We require our cadets to carry the bags and trolleys of young students upstairs every morning as part of their community service,” Philippine School of Doha (PSD) principal Alexander Acosta told Gulf Times.
While the issue is often raised during their annual Parents and Teachers Association meeting, he said they have found this practice as the only solution so far. It has been “very helpful to students”, he noted.
Asked if it is possible to lessen the number books students need to carry, Acosta said each book is required for the courses/subjects students have to attend daily.
PSD does not want to resort to using e-books, which Acosta believes will lower students’ dexterity and motor skills, based on a number of studies he had read.
He added that the excessive use of gadgets such as e-books may also cause some health issues.
“I still go for the printed books and that is why we are not exposing students to too much of computers, especially those in Grades 1 to 3,” Acosta stressed. “It is fine from Grade 4 onwards.”
Despite this measure, some parents want schools to do more as their children continue to suffer from carrying heavy bags, whose weight is often more than  what they should ideally carry.
A mother said her Grade 4 son, who carries about 10 books plus some notebooks and other school supplies in his bag, has been complaining of back pain lately.
Despite being given lockers at school, she noted that students opt to bring their books home because of assignments. 
A popular international school in Doha seems to be taking this issue seriously as it provide all students, from nursery onwards, with lockers to keep their books before going home, it is learnt.
A staff member told Gulf Times that students in the lower elementary already have a list of things they will be bringing to school before the start of classes.
“The role of assistant teachers is to collect these things, which will be used for the whole school year, and keep them in a cabinet,” she explained. “Books are kept in lockers and students only carry their personal stuff.”
The staff member added that students are allowed to take home some books (two to three) - per day or per week - at the teacher’s discretion. 
“Some students bring all the books that they will be using for the whole year; so there is no need to carry them every day,” she said. “Students are encouraged to study and read books in the library during their break or free time.” 
“Books taken home are usually for bedtime stories read by parents,” the employee added. “So, they don’t really carry heavy bags with them.” 
For the upper elementary, she said each student uses a laptop and they stay in the library to read books. “It is up to them if they want to borrow and take it home or put it in their assigned lockers.”