Mind your business,govt tells schools feeding cartels of shops,brands
In an attempt to crack down on the nexus between private schools,shopkeepers and leading brands,the state Education Department has issued directives to schools,asking them to desist from forcing parents or students from buying books,uniforms or any other accessories from a particular shop,place or even of a particular brand.
In an attempt to crack down on the nexus between private schools,shopkeepers and leading brands,the state Education Department has issued directives to schools,asking them to desist from forcing parents or students from buying books,uniforms or any other accessories from a particular shop,place or even of a particular brand.
“It was noticed that schools were forcing parents to buy books from a particular shop. In most cases,parents realised they were being charged more than the actual costs. The schools can select a particular publication of books prescribed for its students,but not the stationery shops,” said principal secretary (primary education) R P Gupta.
The schools have also been asked not to force parents to buy uniforms,shoes and other related items from a particular shop,agency,institute,company or of a particular brand.
Though the effectiveness of these directives remains to be seen,parents hope this will give them some relief at a time when the new academic session is about to begin.
“Despite my daughter having books of my elder son,the school asks us to buy a new set of books and notebooks. Most of the time,these books have superficial changes on their cover pages while the contents remain the same. Moreover,every year,the prices of these books increase by 10-50 per cent,” said a parent who did not wish to be named.
Parents say it’s not only uniforms and and stationery,but they are also forced to buy sports equipment of specified brands and from a particular shop.
Besides paying more because of such cartelisation,parents also have to spend hours in long queues at the “chosen” shops.
Share
