In a directive issued on Thursday, the Hyderabad District Education Officer (DEO) instructed deputy DEOs and deputy inspectors of schools to ensure that private schools affiliated with State, CBSE, and ICSE boards in Hyderabad do not sell uniforms, shoes, and belts on school premises.
Citing a court order, the DEO emphasized that the sale of books, notebooks, or stationery, if necessary, should be conducted on a non-commercial, no-profit-no-loss basis. Despite this directive, parents report that private and corporate schools have been insisting on purchasing books and other materials from them at exorbitant costs.
Following the order, many school managements have set up arrangements with certain stationery and garment shop owners, who act as their agents. Schools are now directing parents to purchase books and uniforms exclusively from these designated agents. These shops are selling the items at inflated prices, including commissions for the schools, leaving parents with no choice but to buy from these sources.
This situation is not isolated to a single school but is a widespread issue, with many schools exploiting parents through these schemes. The government must take strict action against such schools to prevent them from continuing to exploit parents under the guise of these indirect sales tactics.
