Schools leave no choice on buying books, uniforms

Hyderabad: Several international schools and those affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) continue to run in violation of the Board’s norms despite repeated advisories.

Giving details of the violations, the Hyderabad School Parents Association (HSPA) has taken up awareness campaigns in colonies, neighbourhoods, and apartments across greater Hyderabad. Speaking to The Hans India, executive member of the association Ashish N Gupta pointed out that besides collecting exorbitant fees the schools have been involved in forcing the parents to buy books, uniforms, shoes, and schoolbags from vendors specified by the schools.

When the school managements have failed to address these issues several individuals and HSPA had lodged a complaint with the State School Education Department (SSED). However, senior officials in the department expressed their inability to intervene citing that the schools are affiliated to the CBSE and they have no jurisdiction over their functioning.

But, sources in the SSED said that officials’ hesitation to intervene and investigate the complaints come from the fact that the school managements have connections with the powerful in the government.

Speaking to The Hans India, a senior official from the State Board of Secondary Education (SBSE) reminded a communication sent to all CBSE schools and the Education departments on putting a full stop to all commercial activity on the campuses and outside.

The communication in question was sent by the Deputy Secretary of Affiliations of the CBSE on April 19, 2017. Apart from the school managements', the CBSE had also marked the communication to the SBSE of TS and AP, along with other state board of secondary education in the country for information and compliance.      

The communication directed the schools not to indulge in commercial activities by way of selling of books, stationery, uniforms, school bag and adhere to the provisions of Affiliation Bye-Laws of the Board.

Further, the Board in its communication had also reminded the school managements that the schools are run by a society, trust or registered under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1965. As such schools should be treated as a “community service” and “not as a business”.

The Board also pointed out that the schools affiliated to it should use only NCERT and CBSE published textbooks. But, the communication said that it has been receiving complaints of schools forcing parents to purchase other than the NCERT and CBSE textbooks.

This is what gives the scope to the state education officials to intervene and investigate the complaints and send their reports to the CBSE for action. But, this is not happening despite repeated requests for intervention by the parents individually as well as on behalf of the associations. In the meanwhile, parents and students are left to suffer.