Mumbai schools defy CBSE, BMC orders, continue to sell uniforms, books as a ‘goodwill gesture’
Experts said that there are guidelines, court orders, government resolutions against schools indulging in such practices but they are not being implemented strictly.
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, calling it a gesture of goodwill for working parents.
According to one of the complaints, an unaided Kalyan school has 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 continued 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 and this has given them the freedom 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, 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 disparities in brands and quality.
