New Delhi, Sep 5 (IANS): To lighten the heavy school bags of students, the government is all set to reduce their syllabus by 25 percent in all Delhi government schools, Education Minister Manish Sisodia said on Saturday.

While the syllabus for up to class eight in government schools will be reduced by October, the change will be implemented by next year for the remaining classes, he said.

"Delhi government has completed the preparation of a 25 percent reduction in the school syllabus upto class eight and the decision will be implemented by next month (October)," said Sisodia, who is also the deputy chief minister.

"Certain outdated topics which have no present day relevance will be replaced by skill development, theatre, art, music and sports," he added.

The government feels that all round development of children and their participation in the fields of sports, art and culture, literature, music and theatre needs to be encouraged and increased, he said.