Govt Cracks Whip On Sale Of Books, School Uniforms

New Delhi: Aiming to protect parents from an unnecessary financial burden and ensure transparency, Delhi govt has issued guidelines to private schools on the sale of books, uniforms and writing material.
Delhi education minister Ashish Sood on Wednesday said that the new directives, which prohibit private schools from forcing parents and students to buy education material from specific shops or vendors, were issued after several grievances were received. The guidelines by the Directorate of Education apply to all private unaided recognised schools in the city and focus on regulating the sale of educational material and uniforms.
"It was observed that various private unaided recognised schools were compelling students to purchase education material, such as books, guides, ties, belts, notebooks, uniforms and bags, from specific private vendors. This raises concern as students should have the freedom to choose their educational supplies," Sood said.
One key instruction mandates that private schools must prominently display a list of prescribed educational material and other required items for students. In line with this, schools have been prohibited from forcing parents and students to buy books, uniforms or other material from specific vendors or shops. This would ensure that families have the freedom to choose their suppliers and avoid any unnecessary costs.
"Private schools must transparently display the list of prescribed books, educational material and other required items on the school premises. This information must be displayed prominently on school notice boards and the official websites. Any private school found concealing this information or misleading students and parents will face legal consequences," Sood said.
All schools must ensure that they display this list in a public place within the school campus, and any school failing to comply will be held accountable, the minister added.
Additionally, the guidelines stipulate that students are allowed to use textbooks and study material that align with the official curriculum and examination guidelines. The procurement of these books must adhere to the guidelines issued by the education board, preventing schools from pushing additional purchases beyond the required curriculum. This would help avoid undue financial strain on parents.
Schools have also been instructed to provide a list of books and writing material for the upcoming academic session on their websites and display the specifications of uniforms well in advance. Importantly, once the uniform design and specifications are set, they must remain unchanged for at least three years to prevent unnecessary expenditures on parents, state the guidelines.
Additionally, the schools must offer a list of local vendors where parents can purchase books, writing material and uniforms, ensuring multiple purchasing options. DoE will closely monitor compliance with the guidelines and take strict action against schools found in violation.
The education department has urged parents to report any violations through the provided contact details, ensuring the effective enforcement of the rules to maintain fairness and affordability in education.
Parents have expressed growing concerns over the escalating cost of textbooks, pointing out that the schools had asked students to purchase expensive books from private publishers. Many have voiced frustration over what they perceive to be an unfair financial burden, especially for larger families with several children in school. They argued that the mandatory purchase of high-priced textbooks has caused significant financial strain, making it increasingly difficult for some families to meet educational expenses.