Primary goal of education should be to nurture the nation’s future, not to make money; Private schools will hence be strictly monitored and not permitted to charge parents arbitrary fees for books and uniforms: Dy CM Manish Sisodia
Following COVID, parents are struggling to pay for books and uniforms; this order will let parents purchase educational materials from any location that is convenient for them: Dy CM Manish Sisodia
NEW DELHI:
Tightening its noose on Delhi’s private schools, the Kejriwal Government has issued orders to school administrations not to force parents to buy costly educational materials and uniforms from school or any specific vendors, else they will have to face stringent action from the authorities. Private Schools are run by trusts/societies and have no scope of profit and commercialization, said the order from the DoE.
The order further states that schools shall display the class wise list of books/writing materials to be introduced in the coming session as per rule well in advance on the school website and also be communicated clearly to the parents via other media. Apart from this school shall also display the names of addresses and telephone numbers of at least 5 shops in close proximity of the school where books and uniforms shall be made available for students. However, schools are not allowed to force parents to purchase these things from any of the selected vendors particularly. Parents can buy the books and uniforms from any shop as per their convenience and suitability.
Elaborating on the DoE orders, Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Shri Manish Sisodia said, “This order brings a sigh of relief for parents who are struggling to pay the heavy amount for books and uniforms in these private schools. Many households have lost their source of income since the COVID-19 pandemic hit two years ago, making it difficult for them to purchase expensive books and uniforms from specific shops which charge arbitrarily. This order will give freedom to parents across the city to buy books and uniforms for their children as per their convenience.”
Shri Manish Sisodia added, “The parents in all private schools have the right to clear and proper information about books and uniforms before the beginning of the academic session, so that they can arrange them from a place of their choice. No school has the authority to compel them to buy books or uniforms from a specific vendor. The main cause of education should be to nurture the future of the nation, not minting money. Schools should make it a point that they are under strict supervision of the government and will not be allowed to arbitrarily charge parents for books and uniforms.”
DoE has additionally ordered aforementioned schools that they must not change colour, design, or any other specifications of uniforms for at least next three years.