Tuesday, 19 April 2016

Chandigarh: Education Department Launches Whatsapp Number To Lodge Complaints

Chandigarh:  The Union Territory (UT) education department on Monday issued a WhatsApp complaint number for parents of students to lodge complaints against coercion by private schools to buy books and uniforms from specific shops.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has already issued circulars to private schools to not coerce parents into buying non-NCERT/CBSE prescribed books. With parents getting their wards ready for the next academic session at city schools, several instances of private schools forcing parents to buy books and uniforms from specific shops only have been reported to the education department. As per complaints received by harried parents regarding private schools imposing purchase of books, uniforms and other items like bags and stationery from specific shops only, the education department has already issued notices to few private schools in the city seeking an explanation.
So far, complaints have been received against Chitkara International School, Vivek High School, St Joseph Senior Secondary School among others. Against the CBSE norms, some of the city private schools are also selling books within the school premises.
Earlier this month, parents of wards who have got admissions in private schools had also protested in Mohali against the attitude of private schools to impose their own norms. “When the CBSE has prescribed specific books for the students after careful consideration, that are also affordable, why must private schools again try to break the system by bringing in these private books? Private schools have started looting the parents, which needs to be controlled,” said Radhika Kher, the mother of a seven-year-old studying at a city private school.
The parents have also alleged that private schools in the city have tied up with private book stores in order to sell costlier books, that only help the schools in gaining profits. The education department is, however, yet to initiate any inquiry in this regard.


1 comment: