Notice issued to ICSE, CBSE and PSEB-affiliated schools Manav Mander Ludhiana, July 14 Complaints regarding schools forcing parents to buy books and bags from a particular shop continue to pour in. Keeping these complaints in view, the Education Department of Punjab has written to all the CBSE, ICSE and PSEB affliated private schools in this regard. In a letter written to school principals in this regard, Education Department stated that time and again, complaints of parents being forced by the school authorities to buy books and uniforms from particular shops, to which parents end up paying more than usual, have been pouring in. Directions have been issued by the department, under which the managements of the private schools have been ordered to upload the list of the approved books by the concerned board on their respective websites. The letter also mentions that it had come to the notice that a few private schools prescribed their own books from private publishers, without the knowledge of respective boards. They changed books every year so that students are forced to buy new books every year. This practice should be curtailed. If no changes have been made by a board and students want to buy old books, they should not be discouraged. The schools have also been ordered not to sell uniform and books from inside the school premises and not to change the colour of their uniform for atleast three years to relieve parents of extra financial burden. Schools cannot force parents to buy books and uniforms from a particular shop, and in case any school is found guilty, the NOC of the school can be cancelled. A parent, whose kid studies in CBSE affiliated school, said the step taken by the Education Department is appreciable. “I have to buy uniform of my ward from a particular shop as it is not available at any other shop. What should I do under such circumstances as there is no option left. It is a huge nexus which seems impossible to be broken,” he said. Another parent said every year the books were sold by the school from its campus itself after the results were declared. “Books, stationery and bag, everything is given by the school itself. Books are not available at the book stores and we have no option but to buy books from school itself,” said he. This system has been in place since year and parents feel that strict measures and and regular check-ups by the department were required so that parents were given a free hand to buy stationery and uniform at their own will. What notice says

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