Delhi private schools can't force parents to buy books, uniforms from their own shops: Manish Sisodia

The Delhi government has mandated private schools to issue a list of at least 5 nearby shops from where books and clothes can be bought.

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New Delhi: The private schools in the national capital will not be able to force parents to buy books and uniforms from their own shops, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said. 

Every school will be required to display names, addresses and telephone numbers of at least five shops nearby from where books and clothes can be bought, the order by the Delhi government read. Taking to Twitter, Sisodia added, “Action will be taken against schools violating this order." 

दिल्ली के प्राइवेट स्कूल अब पेरेंट्स को अपनी ही दुकान से किताबे व यूनिफॉर्म खरीदने के लिए बाध्य नही कर सकेंगे।

हर स्कूल को आसपास की कम से कम 5 दुकानों की सूची जारी करनी होगी जहा से किताबे व ड्रेस खरीदी जा सकेंगी।

इस आदेश की अवहेलना करने वाले स्कूलों के खिलाफ कार्रवाई की जाएगी। pic.twitter.com/UIpqunhk5q — Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) May 5, 2022

The private schools have also been ordered to not change colour, design or any other specifications of uniforms for at least three years.

The Directorate of Education (DoE) said in an official order that private schools are run by trusts or societies, and have no scope of profit and commercialisation. "Schools shall display class-wise list of books and writing materials to be introduced in the coming session as per rule well in advance on the school website, and (this should) also be communicated clearly to parents via other media," the DoE said in its order.

"However, schools are not allowed to force parents to purchase these things from any of the selected vendors particularly. Parents can buy books and uniforms from any shop as per their convenience and suitability," the order said.

Schools will not be able to force parents to buy books or uniforms from a specific vendor. 

Earlier today, speaking at the 35th Foundation Day of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Delhi's Education Minister said that the education model in the city has gone through revolutionary changes in the past seven years because of strong research and training. 

Sisodia said, "The education model in Delhi has gone through revolutionary changes in the past seven years. We made new schools, introduced new curricula like Happiness, Entrepreneurship Mindset and Deshbhakti (patriotism). Teachers went abroad to get training, our results improved and all this was made possible because of strong research and training in which SCERT Delhi provided support from time to time.” 

(With agency inputs)