Schools flout CBSE, BMC orders, continue to sell uniforms, books

Schools say they offer such services for parents’ convenience, maintain uniformity

Despite recent warnings by Central Board of Secondary Education and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, schools in the city continue to sell uniforms and stationery on their premises or through particular traders, terming it a gesture of goodwill for working parents.

According to one of the parents, an unaided Kalyan school had recently asked parents to buy new uniforms only from the school. A circular issued by the school stated that it has a changed its uniform and the new ones should be bought only from the schools. “Students cannot purchase the uniforms from outside,” read the circular.

While a partially aided school in Chembur has asked students from Class 1 to 4 to pay Rs10,000 as ‘book-money’, another in Borivli continues to sell uniforms and books. Education activists said that though guidelines, court orders, government resolutions against schools indulging in such practices are in place, they are not being implemented.

“The government has failed to monitor and take action against errant schools. This encouraged them to flout rules openly,” said Jayant Jain, president of the Forum for Fairness in Education, a parents-teachers group that fights for education related issues. Jain added that education minister Vinod Tawde seems oblivious to their plight.

Meanwhile, schools said that they offer such services for the convenience of working parents, and that common vendors help them maintain uniformity. “We provide all school accessories under one roof and to save parents time and energy,” said Kavita Aggarwal, chief academic advisor, JBCN International Schools, Lower Parel, Oshiwara and Borivli. She added that the school provides uniform and stationery to avoid disparity in brands and quality.