Srinagar, Oct 26: Ahead of the new academic session, parents are filing complaints over alleged profiteering by some private schools through the sale of school-branded stationery and other items.
Parents complained that text copies and brown sheets bearing school names and logos are being sold at exorbitant rates compared to established brands.
According to parents, several private schools have introduced branded text copies bearing their names and logos on the cover pages, along with large-sized copies and brown sheets carrying the names of the respective institutions.
The parents complained that the practice has added to the financial burden on families preparing for the new academic session.
“The school-branded stationery is being sold at prices significantly higher than comparable text copies available in the market from established brands such as Classmate and Camlin,” a group of parents told Greater Kashmir.
The parents questioned the need for schools to market stationery under their own branding when similar products are readily available in the open market at comparatively lower prices.
“The practice raises concerns over the commercialisation of school requirements and the financial pressure placed on families. The parents are already grappling with expenditure on admission fees, textbooks, uniforms and other educational essentials,” the parents told Greater Kashmir.
The parents urged the School Education Department (SED) to examine the pricing of school-branded stationery and ascertain why parents are being compelled, directly or indirectly, to purchase such items at inflated rates.
“Strict action should be taken against these institutions that are found exploiting their position to generate excessive profits from the sale of stationery,” the parents said.
The parents said the SED must ensure transparency in the sale of school-related materials and avoid unnecessary financial burdens on the parents ahead of the commencement of the new academic session.
The complaints are pouring in days after the Minister for Education, Sakina Itoo, warned private schools not to force the parents to purchase school-related items, including textbooks, uniforms and other relevant items from any specific shops.
However, the schools continue to resort to illegal profiteering by resorting to such practices while remaining hand-in-glove with the book sellers.
The complaints are pouring in at a time when the government has left the Fee Fixation and Regulatory Committee (FFRC) headless for the last two months.
The parents, while referring to the recent statement of the education minister, said that the government must act on the ground.
“The government officials only give statements to the media but do not take action on the ground. We are given a particular set of copies having the logo and name of the schools, besides its cover, which has similar branding. The quality of the paper is not better than the copies of Classmate Apsara or other brands,” the parents said.
The parents said the notebook with school branding has 250 pages with an MRP of Rs 120, while the copy of other brands has better paper quality with 240 pages with an MRP of Rs 100 only.
“The book sellers give a 20% discount on these brands, but there is no such discount on text copies with school branding, and they are available at specific shops,” the parents added.
