Srilanka, Sept. 12 -- The Government's new education reforms, which, among other things, are designed to reduce the weight of schoolbags, is a welcome step - one that should have been considered much earlier. Had this been the case we would not be having a whole host of schoolchildren today with back trouble and ailments connected to carrying heavy loads. According to a news report in this connection, quoting Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who is also the Minister of Education, the new education reforms will feature a modular activity-based system designed to lighten the physical weight of schoolbags for children.

Since the activity books of children in the primary section are in the classroom, there is no need to carry books ba...