Zambia’s CCPC warn schools, says forcing students to buy uniform is illegal

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has advised all schools to stop from compelling parents and guardians to purchase uniforms from schools as this is against the Competition and Consumer Protection Act.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) opines this is very unfortunate to say that it has continued to receive complaints from some members of the public on these unfair practices. The public relation officer of CCPC, Namukolo Kasumpa has re-emphasized and reiterated the Commission's warning to such schools who have taken the law upon themselves to engage in unfair trading practices will be followed accordingly.

Namukolo Kasumpa opined that it has also come to the Commission's attention that some schools have also continued to link school places to buying of the uniforms at the same school, a situation which is unfair and against the law as it limits consumer choices. She urged that this behavior by schools will not be condoned, and is equivalent to unfair trading practice, as reported by Lusaka Times.

"According to the Competition and Consumer Protection Act No. 24 of 2010, any institution or individual found guilty is liable to pay the CCPC a fine not exceeding ten percent of that person's or enterprise's annual turnover," she said. Mrs. According to her, the Commission won't allow this situation to continue as it is likely to cause high prices of uniforms and reduce consumer choice and quality. It also excludes other alternative sources that provide similar uniforms.

"The Commission is aware that uniforms need to be of a particular standard and therefore all schools should provide a general standard of what type, shade, length and color of uniforms that are required," she emphasized. She said parents and guardians who purchase uniforms from other sources that produce similar uniforms at competitive prices must ensure the uniforms purchased comply to the standard of uniforms as guided by the school.

She has further advised the perpetrators to refrain from such vices immediately and has appealed to affected members of the public to report institutions of learning involved in this practice to CCPC as soon as possible, LT noted.