Parents not bound to buy books from one shop only
Insisting students to buy books from specific shops is mere ways of earning commissions from the bookstores to which many schools are linked. Moreover, students are also compelled to take notebooks from the school stationary or particular shops which are always expensive than the original price. To be honest, this has become a source of generating income and is a business for many schools. This has become a custom or tradition for the past few years and the local bodies are following this practice wholeheartedly. But, remember we can always bring a change, if we want.
Harshpreet Suri
Buying books from schools saves time
As per the CBSE's circular number, Acad /13/2016 dated 12 April, 2016, children cannot be forced by the schools to buy textbooks other than NCERT/CBSE textbooks. However, the CBSE has permitted schools to open small outlets for supply of only NCERT books and stationery items. However, it prohibits schools for charging of these items more than the MRP (maximum retail price). School like BCM Senior Secondary School, situated at Sector-32, Chandigarh Road, Ludhiana, has set an example of abiding the CBSE rules. At its website it is clearly mentioned under "list of books" that the school does not authorise any shop for buying books and uniform. Parents are free to buy uniforms and books from any shop. But from my point of view, it will be good for parents to buy textbooks from within the school rather than approaching to another vendor. Shopkeepers outside do not pay attention to editions, and in such case, parents can purchase a wrong edition, as new editions generally recompile chapters differently. In this scenario, a student can face trouble in finding the same information that his/her classmate has. In a nutshell, one needs to pay attention while buying textbooks from another vendor whereas buying of textbooks from schools saves precious time.
RAVI CHANDER GARG
Maximising profit sole objective
Government schooling is collapsing day-by-day and paving way for private schools. Undoubtedly, maximising profit is the sole object of these schools in the name of providing quality education. Selling or referring specific shops for books and stationery provides an opportunity for them to earn windfall gains. Such monopolistic behaviour of schools can safely be called as "loot". All strata of schools are involved in this unfair practice. A lump sum amount or share from these non-academic activities earns handsome black money for such institutions which is never reflected in their accounts. In some schools, teachers play the role of salespersons in the beginning of the season.
However, the CBSE authorities have warned the schools against this practice but these were taken care of seriously. Parents associations should be engaged to curb such malpractices of schools.
Brish Bhan Ghaloti
Form committees in schools
Schools are considered as second home for children where they learn the basics of life. But at times schools compel parents to purchase books, stationery and uniforms from specific shops which sounds unfair. All parents may not be economically well to purchase books at hefty prices. To overcome this problem, there must be an establishment of a committee in each school including some educationists. These committees must prescribe some standard books for syllabus. Any school found using these unethical practices should be banned to admit students. The basic thrust should be on imparting education not to earn money.
Mohd Saleem Farooqui
Over commercialisation of education
The private education sector is over commercialised. Schools make money from building funds, uniforms, books, transportation and even from the trips they plan for the students under the name of education. This is nothing but greed as most of the schools, colleges or universities are being run by business tycoons or netas. It is a reality of capitalism.
Major Gurdeep S Samra(Retd)
CBSE should provide PDF format of books
Books are the best source of knowledge and best companion of knowledge seeking students. Nowadays, many schools insist students to buy books from specific shops. These schools have tie-ups with such shops for making extra money. Apart from school dress, shoes and bags, school management leave no stone unturned to make a few extra bucks. The publishers of these books have also exclusive tie-ups with these shops and enjoy monopoly in the city. Moreover, the shopkeepers get the binding done and charge extra price for the same. The NCERT books which are much economical than other publishers are always discouraged in schools. Some measures should be taken by the CBSE as they should provide the PDF formats of all books online. Parents should also oppose this practice at the PTM levels.
MEGHA CHUGH
Parents should be free to buy books from outside
The CBSE has made it mandatory in all its affiliated schools to use the material recommended by National Council of Education and Training (NCERT) and had allowed schools to set up tuck shops on their premises from where the parents can purchase books. But many schools have made it mandatory for parents to buy books from specific shops. Educational institutions are not commercial establishments and sale of books, uniform and stationary by them is a violation of norms. The notification to use the NCERT books was circulated by the CBSE as some schools were using the material written by private authors and publishers and to ease the supply of NCERT books, tuck shop option was given by the board to schools. But schools have used it for their own motive. The parents should be given a list of books only and they should be free to purchase from any shop. Old books purchase option should also be made available.
Dr Jasdeep Kaur
Report matter to the DEO
Schools cannot justify for compelling their students to buy books from the specific shops. If the schools insist its students, then parents must report the matter to the District Education Officer. The Education Department must be vigilant and must take steps to check such practice by the schools. With the large number of bookseller shops in the city market, there is a great competition for price of books and if the students buy books from the open market, they can realise a great deal of savings from the purchase of books/school uniform. The parents must be at liberty to buy these needs of their children from anywhere in the city.
Dr G Dev
Schools market education system
Undoubtedly, schools convince students to get books from particular shops. The schools have tie-ups with such shops. These shops sell books at higher price. When the book is not available on other stores, then the hapless parents have to buy these from the stores which were mentioned by the school authority. Also, there are children who follow the footsteps of fellow students, which is another reason for parents to buy books from the stores which had been recommended by a school.
Inayat Sidhu
Schools are becoming a big business
Of course, the schools cannot justify the act of impelling students to buy books from a specific shop. The schools are becoming businesses rather than temples of education. The schools are contacting different booksellers to get maximum commission if they recommend the students to get books of specific shop. Books remains same, it does not matter which bookshop is selling these.
Rattandeep Singh Oberoi
Students cannot be forced to buy books
A student being asked to buy books from specific book shops is due to a reason of contract between schools and shops. These book shops have all the required books and even at concessional prices. This saves time of kids and parents as they do not have to go in search of books here and there. But at the same time, school authorities must understand that it is not possible for each and everyone to go to the recommended shop due to various reasons. Students should be told about such shops but cannot be forced to go on specific book shop only. So forcing students is not justified as it is all students' choice.
Deepakshi Arora
Parents should have right to choose shop
In city, there are many private schools which are compelling their students to buy books from specific shops. Such schools have their private shops in the city or these schools have their partnership with specific shops for uniform, books and other stationery. However, these shops are benificial for students and parents as they can buy all things under one roof. But if we see the other side of this matter then we will come to know that all such things are wrong. There should not be any fix shop to buy school books, stationery and others by school authorities. Parents should have a free right to choose the shop, market from they want to buy all books.
Kalpna Maurya
Parents should file written complaints
The private schools have set up strategies to sell the books with a particular book vendor. This makes a huge profit to both. They sell these two or three times higher than the actual cost of the books. This has become a major issue for the general public to provide their children with quality education. Education is being so expensive these days it has become the hardest task for the people to make their children study. The schools are forcing their students to buy books from a specific book shop claiming that they want the uniformity to be maintained and keep records of the books. Parents are unwillingly buying the books for their children under the pressure of the school authorities. The CBSE has especially sent notices to the affiliated schools not to interface in context of books, stationery or uniforms. Selling of such items in school premises is clear violation of the rules. Parents should be more vigilant and file written complaints if they face the same problem further and should not give way to such unhealthy practices.
Anupreet Sapra
OPEN HOUSE COMMENT
Commercialisation in education is concern
Minna Zutshi
COMMERCIALISATION of the education has become a norm. Educating a child in a so-called 'good' school entails an economic cost for parents. For a family of modest means, the monthly expenses of children's school education are not easy to meet. Already burdened with tuition fees and a host of funds, including the ones for co-curricular activities, the parents resent any guidelines by school authorities that suggest additional spending on the parents' part. In such a scenario, if schools compel students to buy books from specific bookshops, the parents start 'seeing' a commercial angle to it and in many cases, justifiably so. When commercialisation takes precedence over education, it becomes a matter of concern.
