Some suggested India adopt school lockers to ease student burden
New Delhi, 1,September 2025
A viral video from China has sparked widespread discussion after highlighting the stark difference between school bags carried by children in India and those used by students in China. While Indian school bags are often packed with heavy textbooks, notebooks, lunch boxes, water bottles, and stationery—sometimes weighing over 10 kg—the video shows that children in China carry almost none of these items.
The clip, posted on Instagram by a user named @indian_girl_in_china, features an Indian woman living in China who revealed what her child takes to school. In the video, she explained that teachers do not allow students to bring books, water bottles, stationery, or lunch boxes from home because everything is provided by the school itself. Rather, the primary purposes of the school bag are to transport homework, swap necessities, and guarantee security.
She also listed the special features of the bag, describing it as lightweight, fireproof, waterproof, durable, and designed to protect children during emergencies like earthquakes or drowning. Opening her child’s bag, she showed that it contained only a few clothes, including two t-shirts, a pair of shorts, and trousers—making it drastically lighter than Indian school bags. “I keep clothes inside so kids can stay fresh, hygienic, and well dressed throughout the day,” she explained.
The video has since gone viral, amassing over 4.5 million views, 101,000 likes, and 47,000 shares on Instagram. Some parents shared their own experiences, recalling that their children’s school bags in India weighed anywhere from 6 to 13 kg. Others questioned the need for Indian students to carry such heavy loads daily.
In a follow-up post, the woman clarified that these lightweight bags are typically used by kindergarten children around the age of six and added that the monthly school fee amounts to nearly ₹32,000. Social media users were divided in their reactions—some praised the Chinese system for eliminating homework and suggested India introduce lockers in schools, while others questioned whether such high fees made the practice accessible to all.
The debate has once again reignited concerns about the burden of heavy school bags in India and whether similar reforms could help reduce stress on young students. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ3rhFcyQAp/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
