School Education Dept, Kashmir, bans private schools recommending book, uniform shops to parents

Srinagar, April 7: The Directorate of School Education, Kashmir has issued a circular banning the practice of private schools recommending retail shops for buying books, uniform and stationery for students.

According to the circular, a copy of which has been shared with Ziraat Times, issued on 7 April, 2023, and signed by the Director of School Education Department, “This Directorate and its subordinate offices viz., Chief Education Office & Zonal Education Offices are receiving a number of complaints against the private schools regarding purchase of text books stationery items/school uniforms etc., from a particular shop which is a cause of concern among the parents and the society as general has raised eyebrows against this practice. On the contrary, the books prescribed by these schools should have been available in the open market.”

The circular further reads – “There are some more complaints from parents wherein it is said that a large number of books are being prescribed by the private school authorities for primary classes, which unnecessary burdens the tender minds and mars the creativity and other 21st century skills among students as envisaged in NEP-2020.”

“Further, some private schools are forcing parents to purchase extra books for classes 6th, 7th & 8th in addition to the books prescribed by JKBOSE which amounts to extra burden on the learning of students and goes against the recommendations of National Education Policy 2020 which advocates age- appropriate burden free learning of students. Pertinent to mention here that subjects, such as, Computer Studies, Moral Education, and General Knowledge need to be infused across subject areas and other activities in the school without additional textbooks (School Bag Policy,2020).The schools that prescribe additional books which are not prescribed by the Board to which the schools affiliated not only flout the recommendations envisaged in Rule 8A of J&K School Education Rules, 2010 & revised guidelines of School Bag Policy, 2020 released by Department of School Education and Literacy Ministry of Education, Government of India, but also poses extra financial burden on parents. Resorting to such illegal practices by few private schools is against the ethics and norms/guidelines issued by the Government from time to time” , the circular adds.

“Henceforth, all private schools shall notify through their websites the list of subjects and the books prescribed by the Board to which they are affiliated and no other subject or book shall be made mandatory. Under no circumstances, any school shall ask parents to buy books from a particular bookshop” the circular reads, adding, “As such, it is once again enjoined upon all the private recognized schools to desist from compelling the parents to purchase books /uniforms from any particular shops and change of books thereof. Further, parents should be given wider choice to purchase of books /uniforms etc., from the open market.”

“Any deviation from these instructions, if noticed shall be viewed seriously and action will be taken as per the provisions of law which inter-alia includes de-recognition of schools/withdrawal of Managing Body also.

All Chief Education Officers shall constitute special monitoring teams involving cluster heads, Zonal Education Officers to verify the complaints received on account of sale of books/uniforms by the private schools/prescribing additional books or pressing parents for purchase from any particular shop. Action taken in this regard shall be submitted to this Directorate on monthly basis”, the circular further notes.

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