No bags, no books: Odisha school students learn life lessons beyond the classroom

No heavy school bags, no textbooks and, for a change, no routine classroom lessons. Instead, there were yoga sessions, drawing, indoor games and a walk through the garden as students discovered that learning can happen far beyond the four walls of a classroom. The school day in Umerkote’s Badakumari took a different turn as students participated in a Bagless Day, an initiative aimed at making education more experiential, practical and engaging. With their shoulders free from the weight of schoolbags, students arrived at school empty-handed but curious. The day began with physical exercises and yoga, followed by creative activities where children explored their imagination through drawing and paper-based work. The mood became livelier during indoor games, with students learning through play and interaction. Later, they stepped outside the classroom for a guided tour of the school garden. Teachers introduced them to different plants and trees and explained their medicinal properties, turning the garden into a living classroom. For the students, it was a welcome break from their usual textbook-based routine. For teachers, it offered an opportunity to introduce practical learning and help children connect classroom concepts with everyday life. The initiative is based on the experiential and activity-based approach encouraged under the National Education Policy (NEP). Under the programme, students from Classes VI to VIII will attend school without schoolbags on at least 10 days every year. Instead of regular textbook lessons, these days will focus on practical activities and hands-on learning. The objective is not merely to reduce the physical burden of schoolbags but also to ease academic pressure and encourage children to acquire practical knowledge. The programme also seeks to develop respect for labour and generate interest in local crafts, traditional art and livelihoods. “We are very happy to come to school without bags. We played, painted and performed Yoga. This is a very nice experience,” said a student. Officials said future Bagless Day activities will include exposure to agriculture, handicrafts, traditional arts and other essential life skills. Teachers and parents have also welcomed the initiative, saying such activities can give children an opportunity to learn through observation, participation and experience. Also Read: Odisha Assembly monsoon session to begin on September 22 “I welcome the move of the government. The students were very happy after school,” said Asuthosh Mandal, a parent. Badakumari in Umerkote, located in the constituency of the School and Mass Education Minister, has emerged as the first school in the state to begin the initiative. The programme is expected to be gradually extended to schools across Odisha. “This initiative will give the students an opportunity to live a life without stress and give them exposure,” said Nityananda Gond, School and Mass Education Minister. Read More: Odisha family awaits govt support as 3-year-old ailing daughter’s life begins & ends on a bed For the children, however, the message was much simpler: sometimes, the best lessons are the ones that do not come from a textbook.