Mangaluru: The “No Bag Day” in schools initiated in Dakshina Kannada in the last academic year has prompted five more districts in the State to emulate it in this academic year, Y. Shivaramaiah, Deputy Director of Public Instruction, Dakshina Kannada, said here recently.

Belagavi, Hassan, Tumakuru, Chikkaballapur and Kodagu districts have implemented the concept now, he said, addressing a programme of the Mangalore City Headmasters’ and Pre University College Principals’ Association. The department is now considering implementing it in the remaining districts in the State, he said.

Students do not bring bags to schools on Saturdays. They are allowed to involve in activities related to the syllabi taught, on that day. Students are asked to make use of the library and the laboratory. The concept has been received well by parents and teachers. This year, teachers have come out with an annual plan of activities they will hold on the day.

Mr. Shivaramaiah said that Belagavi, Hassan, Tumakuru, Chikkaballapur and Kodagu will have “No Bag Day” twice every month. Principal Secretary to the Department of Primary and Secondary Education Shalini Rajaneesh intends to have this concept implemented in other districts of the State from the next academic year.

He said that the department was focussing on bringing down the number of failures in the Class 10 examination. With committed work of teachers, the number of failures have come down this year by 1,155 compared to 5,280 failures last year, he said.

Earlier, Mr. Shivaramaiah felicitated retired teachers, headmasters and principals. Among those who were felicitated included N. Ismail, who retired as Principal of Badriya Pre University College, where he served in the college for 35 years. The association also felicitated students who have done well in the Class 10 and II year Pre University examinations.