Schools will not be able to put pressure on purchasing books and uniforms from specific shops, immediate action will be taken on complaints.

Every year, whenever a new academic session starts, lines of worry appear on the foreheads of parents. Apart from the huge school fees, the biggest headache is buying books, notebooks and school uniforms. It is often seen that many schools put pressure on parents to buy school related items only from a specific shop, whereas the goods at that shop are much more expensive than the market. Now parents in Maharashtra are going to get relief from this loot and mental trouble. In fact, the Maharashtra government has decided to take action against such arbitrary schools.

Pain of parents raised in Legislative Council

This issue recently echoed in the Maharashtra Legislative Council. Legislative Council member Sudhakar Adabale put forward this problem of the parents in the House. He said that there are many schools in the state which are doing business in the name of education. Adabale said that these schools directly force the parents to buy school uniforms, books, shoes and other essential items from a particular shop only. If a parent buys goods from outside, the school management does not accept it. The prices of books and uniforms at these special shops are double or even more than the general market, due to which the budget of middle class and poor families gets completely spoiled.

Government adopted strict stance

On this serious issue, on behalf of Maharashtra Government, Minister of State Dr. Pankaj Bhoyar said that the government will not tolerate this kind of commercial coercion in the field of education. He said that this rule is not limited only to the State Board, but will be equally applicable to all schools affiliated to private, CBSE and ICSE boards. No school can force parents to buy goods from a particular shop. He also informed that the government has already taken such matters seriously and action has also been taken against some schools violating the rules.

How will this arbitrariness of schools stop?

• Appointment of Nodal Officers: The Minister of State said that nodal officers will be appointed under each departmental Deputy Director’s office.
• continuous monitoring: These nodal officers will work under the control of the Assistant Director. Their main work will be to closely monitor the process of purchasing and selling of educational materials in schools.
• Immediate Action: If during monitoring it is found that any school is pressurizing parents to buy from a particular shop, then these officials will immediately take action against that school.

Blacklist will be made, punitive action will be taken

Dr. Pankaj Bhoyar said that a database will be prepared of all the complaints received against schools by public representatives (MLAs, Councilors etc.). Instructions have been given to prepare a separate list of schools against which maximum complaints will be received. On the basis of this list, education department officials will investigate the concerned schools. If the schools are found guilty in the investigation, punitive action will be taken against them. This may include procedures ranging from imposing heavy fines to canceling the recognition of the school.

Also read: CBSE released new parenting calendar, know what will change in 2026-27 session

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