Selling ‘overpriced’ uniform, stationery in Sindh private schools banned
Schools charge two to four times more money which is tantamount to robbery, says a circular
Sindh education department says private institutes charge four times more than market price.
The Sindh Education and Literacy Department has restrained private schools from selling uniforms, course books, notebooks and other stationery items to their students and warned of strict action if these schools were found flouting the directives.
A notification issued by the directorate of inspection and registration of private institutions, a subordinate department of the Sindh education and literacy department, and circulated to all private schools across the province declared the sale of uniforms, course books, notebooks and other stationery items by these schools illegal.
The circular restricts students of the private schools from purchasing uniforms and stationery items from their schools. The schools charge two to four times more money than market prices which, according to the circular, is an illegal act and causes an additional financial burden on the parents. It is equal to robbery and therefore, the education department has restricted all private schools from selling these items. These schools cannot force the parents to purchase the uniforms, course books, notebooks and other stationery items from them, stated the circular warning that action would be taken against any school administration found violating this directive. The circular advised the schools to refrain from using such tactics to make money if they wanted to avoid any legal action against them.
SHC bars schools from collecting more than a month’s fee
The schools were instead directed to provide a list of the required books, uniforms and other stationery items to the parents instead of collecting money themselves so that parents could purchase these things from market at their convenience. However, the circular stated, the school administrations can print their logo on the notebooks and uniforms if they want and sell these things to the parents at the prevalent market rates.
The department has formed monitoring, complaint and inspection teams that have been instructed to take action against the schools that fail to comply with these directives.
While talking to The Express Tribune, the mother of Maham, a student at a school in North Nazimabad, expressed pleasure at the recent decision of the Sindh education and literacy department and said that while it was late in coming, she was glad it was finally here. "We buy books for around Rs1,500 from the schools and these same books are available at the Urdu Bazaar for Rs300 to Rs400." She added that the schools sell their registers and notebooks for Rs400 to Rs500, which can be purchased for around Rs200 in the market.
She further said that private schools are a mafia whose only aim is to make more and more money. "They have turned education into a business and they make money from the parents using different tactics." She added that apart from the June and July fee that they have to pay, there are multiple worries that plague the parents as the new academic year starts. She said that the parents are forced to buy the books, uniforms and other stationery items from the schools which carry their monograms. "But now we are relieved by the decision taken by the Sindh education department," she said.
The shopkeepers in Urdu Bazaar also expressed pleasure at the news. They said that their businesses were flourishing a few years ago but when the private schools began selling books and other stationery, their businesses were affected and sales decreased. They expressed the hope that the decision will help revive their business and added that parents too would be able to purchase these items at market rates.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2019.
A notification issued by the directorate of inspection and registration of private institutions, a subordinate department of the Sindh education and literacy department, and circulated to all private schools across the province declared the sale of uniforms, course books, notebooks and other stationery items by these schools illegal.
The circular restricts students of the private schools from purchasing uniforms and stationery items from their schools. The schools charge two to four times more money than market prices which, according to the circular, is an illegal act and causes an additional financial burden on the parents. It is equal to robbery and therefore, the education department has restricted all private schools from selling these items. These schools cannot force the parents to purchase the uniforms, course books, notebooks and other stationery items from them, stated the circular warning that action would be taken against any school administration found violating this directive. The circular advised the schools to refrain from using such tactics to make money if they wanted to avoid any legal action against them.
SHC bars schools from collecting more than a month’s fee
The schools were instead directed to provide a list of the required books, uniforms and other stationery items to the parents instead of collecting money themselves so that parents could purchase these things from market at their convenience. However, the circular stated, the school administrations can print their logo on the notebooks and uniforms if they want and sell these things to the parents at the prevalent market rates.
The department has formed monitoring, complaint and inspection teams that have been instructed to take action against the schools that fail to comply with these directives.
While talking to The Express Tribune, the mother of Maham, a student at a school in North Nazimabad, expressed pleasure at the recent decision of the Sindh education and literacy department and said that while it was late in coming, she was glad it was finally here. "We buy books for around Rs1,500 from the schools and these same books are available at the Urdu Bazaar for Rs300 to Rs400." She added that the schools sell their registers and notebooks for Rs400 to Rs500, which can be purchased for around Rs200 in the market.
She further said that private schools are a mafia whose only aim is to make more and more money. "They have turned education into a business and they make money from the parents using different tactics." She added that apart from the June and July fee that they have to pay, there are multiple worries that plague the parents as the new academic year starts. She said that the parents are forced to buy the books, uniforms and other stationery items from the schools which carry their monograms. "But now we are relieved by the decision taken by the Sindh education department," she said.
The shopkeepers in Urdu Bazaar also expressed pleasure at the news. They said that their businesses were flourishing a few years ago but when the private schools began selling books and other stationery, their businesses were affected and sales decreased. They expressed the hope that the decision will help revive their business and added that parents too would be able to purchase these items at market rates.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2019.