Ahead of the start of the new academic year, the Delhi government has told private schools in the national capital that they cannot force parents to buy textbooks, exercise books, uniforms, bags and other materials from specific vendors.
The Delhi government’s Directorate of Education (DoE) said in an order issued on April 1 that parents should be allowed to buy books and uniforms from any vendor as long as they meet the prescribed syllabus and specifications.
Schools cannot mandate contractors
Unaided private recognized schools cannot mandate the purchase of books, uniforms, stationery or accessories from any particular store, supplier or organisation, the order said.
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Schools were also prohibited from forcing parents to purchase additional or unnecessary study materials.
Details of prescribed books should be published
To ensure transparency, schools must display the complete list of prescribed books and materials from their respective boards including CBSE, ICSE or state board on their official websites, notice boards and school premises.
You can’t change your uniform often
Furthermore, schools were ordered not to make frequent changes to their uniforms. According to the directive, the uniform must remain unchanged for at least three years after completion.
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The schools were also asked to provide details of at least five nearby retailers, including names, addresses and contact numbers, where the required items are available in the open market.
Breach reporting mechanism
To ensure compliance, DoE has appointed a nodal officer and parents can report violations directly to Dr. Rajpal Singh, Deputy Director of Education on 9818154069.
The DoE said private schools are expected to operate on a “no profit, no loss” basis, meaning they will operate only to cover actual costs without generating any surplus or incurring losses.
The order issued by Director (Education) Veditha Reddy also warned that schools violating the directive could face action under the Delhi School Education Act and Rules (DSEAR), 1973 and the Right to Education Rules, 2011.
According to officials, the order was issued following widespread complaints from parents that schools were forcing them to buy uniforms and books from specific vendors at exorbitant prices.
Parents complain of ‘blackmail’
In recent days, several videos and posts have circulated on social media showing parents complaining about buying uniforms, books and other accessories from specific vendors at higher than market prices because schools have made them compulsory.
Many termed such practices as daylight robbery and extortion and urged the government to crack down on such schools.
Key things
- The Delhi government has issued a directive to prevent schools from forcing parents to buy from specific vendors.
- Schools must provide a list of approved vendors and display prescribed materials on their websites and bulletin boards.
- Frequent changes of school uniforms are prohibited, ensuring stability for parents and students.
