Sirsa pvt schools under fire for forcing costly books on students, govt cracks down

Private schools in Haryana have come under strict scrutiny after parents and education activists raised concerns about schools forcing expensive books and materials on students. Despite existing rules under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009 and Haryana School Education Rules, 2013, many schools were found violating guidelines by compelling parents to buy overpriced books, uniforms, and other supplies from selected vendors.

The issue gained attention after being highlighted in The Tribune, leading the Directorate of School Education, Haryana, to issue a stern directive to all district and Elementary Education Officers on April 5, 2025. The directive emphasises ongoing unfair practices in schools, such as making specific books mandatory for purchase, unnecessarily recommending additional reference books, frequently changing uniforms, and forcing students to carry extra items such as water bottles and tiffin bags, which results in school bags exceeding the recommended weight limits.

The department stated that such practices were unethical and go against education policy. It has now ordered all District Education Officers (DEOs) and District Elementary Education Officers (DEEOs) to ensure schools comply strictly with government guidelines. They must not burden parents with unnecessary costs or force them to buy from specific shops. The letter also reminded officials that action should be taken against violators, including submitting reports if schools continue these practices.

This crackdown came after several complaints from parents and associations who claimed the schools were making deals with publishers and earning commissions. Many parents said they had to spend between Rs 3,000 and Rs 9,000 on books and supplies. A case in Sirsa revealed that a single English grammar book for Class III, with only 10 pages, was priced at Rs 469.

The parents also accused the schools of ignoring NCERT books, which were cheaper and government approved and instead pushing books by the private publishers. Activists said these decisions often stemed from political and commercial interests of school owners, making regulation difficult.

Following media coverage and public pressure, many schools have now started submitting affidavits promising to follow the rules and use only NCERT books.

Saurav Mehta, Haryana Parents Association president said the Directorate’s circular was seen as a strong step to bring private schools in line and protect the parents from being exploited. It also directed that no verbal instructions be given for book purchases, and all such details should be clearly mentioned in writing or via official school platforms, he added.

However, Saurav said it would be interesting to see how much private schools adhere to these directives and how local education officers enforce these rules.

Notably, Sirsa's MP, Kumari Selja, also brought up the issue of illegal fee collection by private schools and criticised the BJP government. She stated that the government was ignoring the problem and allowing it to continue without taking any action.