Tackling Private School Practices: Fair Access to Books and Uniforms

The Delhi Directorate of Education has ordered private schools to provide a list of at least five vendors for books and uniforms, ensuring fair market practices. This action follows complaints about schools forcing parents to buy from specific shops. Schools must avoid changing uniform specifications for three years to prevent exploitative practices.

The Delhi Directorate of Education has issued a directive targeting private schools, compelling them to list at least five vendors for books and uniforms on their websites and notice boards. This measure aims to counteract reports of schools forcing parents into purchasing from designated stores, effectively curbing exploitative business practices.

In a bid to enhance transparency and fair competition, the DoE has mandated that schools inform parents about vendors, ensuring materials are available at fair market prices. Furthermore, the schools are required not to alter uniform details for at least three years once they are prescribed.

Aprajita Gautam of the Delhi Parents Association highlighted ongoing issues, critiquing how some school-affiliated vendors charge inflated prices. The DoE's new guidelines emphasize that schools operated by societies or trusts should not engage in profit-driven activities, reinforcing their status as non-profit entities.

(With inputs from agencies.)