Shafqat takes notice of schools dictating books

Private school systems force students to buy text and notebooks at exorbitant prices from designated shops

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood has taken serious note of reports that certain private school systems were forcing students to buy entire package of text and notebooks at exorbitant prices from designated shops.

He said this practice was not acceptable as most parents could not afford to buy costly books and stationery items for their children.

"What is especially difficult for parents is that they are being forced to buy textbooks which can easily be passed on from older brothers and sisters to their younger ones once they move on to a senior class," he said in a press release.

This practice, Shafqat Mahmood said, must be stopped forthwith. "Parents must be given the option to buy only those books that are required."

The Federal Ministry of Education expects that the private school systems would make public announcements in the next few days to the effect that no one was being forced to buy entire package of textbooks, if not needed.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2019.