SCHOOLS TURN BOOK SHOPS, PARENTS PAY
Most of the self-financed English medium schools make students buy ‘supplementary’ texts by private publishers, pushing the book bill up by around Rs 2,500; schools get 40% commission on these books, but do not pass on the benefit to students
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Friday, June 14, 2013 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/2013061420130614022315231ed32a90f/SCHOOLS-TURN-BOOK-SHOPS-PARENTS-PAY.html
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Friday, June 14, 2013 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/2013061420130614022315231ed32a90f/SCHOOLS-TURN-BOOK-SHOPS-PARENTS-PAY.html
Schools justify it in the name of supplementary reading but parents cry foul, calling it business. Officials accept it is illegal but have done nothing to stop self-financed English medium schools affiliated with Gujarat education board from making their students buy books by private publishers. To wit, take the example of the set of books prescribed for class 7 by the board. It costs Rs 334, but parents end up spending up to Rs 2,500 for these and all other books that schools make them buy.
In the margin lies schools’ profit, though they would not admit it. Most of the self-financed schools make students buy not just the text books prescribed by the state board which may cost not more than Rs 350 for two semesters, but ask them to also buy “supplementary” texts by private publishers, pushing the book bill up by around Rs 2,500. The catch is these books are not readily available in the open market and the clueless parents have no choice but to buy them from the schools.
Sources say while these schools earn a hefty commission of 40 per cent or more on these books, they sell them at cover price without passing on the benefit of even a single rupee to the students. “Not only is it unethical to force parents to buy books from them, the schools are also making money by pocketing the margin,” said an official in the District Education Office. When contacted, Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama said the government had not received any complaint of this so far. But he added, “If true, then it is a serious issue. We will look into it and take necessary steps.” Until then, it is profit schools.
‘70 PER CENT SCHOOLS GUILTY’
The problem exists despite the fact that the standard of books brought out by Gujarat Council of Educational Research and Training (GCERT) for these classes has improved a lot in the last couple of years. The council is a pivotal institution at the state level for the enhancement of qualitative education at primary and secondary level and has elevated the standard to its national counterpart, National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), experts say.
While seeking affiliation with Gujarat board these schools vow to teach state board syllabus and follow the text book prescribed by it. But in reality they make their students buy several books other than those prescribed by the board. Sources say nearly 70 per cent of the self-financed English medium schools follow this practice. “To compound the students’ and their parents’ woes, schools never make a set of books from a single publisher. As doing so might help parents to procure them from the publishers, and thus eliminate schools’ profit, they deliberately collate books from various publishers so that the students and parents become completely dependent on schools for the books. This maximises their profit,” said the official.
STATE SYLLABUS MANDATORY
While school managements’ admit that the practice is rampant, District Education Officer (primary) M M Jani says he has not received any complaint of it so far. “Schools are bound to teach syllabus prescribed by GEB and follow books prescribed by it. If they don’t do so then action can be taken against them.
The board can even cancel its affiliation,” he said, adding “schools can teach lessons from other books, but it is mandatory for them to teach from texts prescribed.” Ahmedabad School Management Association Bhaskar Patel conceded that many schools were into this wrong practice. “Schools are obliged to teach the syllabus of the board they are affiliated with. Parents must raise the issue if schools are not following this. Primary Education Department is supposed to ensure schools teach the right syllabus,” he said.
Rajendra Rawal, a trustee of K R Rawal School in Ranip, said, “It is true that many schools like ours teach from books other than those prescribed by Gujarat board. But these books are essentially NCERT books and are meant only as supplementary reading. NCERT books maintain very good standard. Following NCERT books prepares the foundation for our students to compete at national level.” He added, “However, I must say, social studies books by Gujarat board is good and we follow them.” On the extra money that parents have to shell out to get those books, he said, “Those who come to our schools know that they have to pay more than in grant-in-aid schools. Besides, they have to spend money on books only once in a year. I think parents are ready for this.”
BOOKS IN SHORT SUPPLY
Students’ reliance on private publication books is accentuated by the fact that state board books are difficult to find in shops. Take the current situation. Schools have reopened and students have entered new classes, but most of the students from class first to eighth are yet to get to get their state board text books. As against this, private publishers’ text books have flooded the market. “Children do not get state board text books in shops even several months after sessions begin, whereas private publishers’ books are available well in advance. People will obviously lean towards the latter. It is a failure of the government system,” says Naresh Shah, president of Gujarat Books and Stationary Sellers Association. He also heads parents association.
In the margin lies schools’ profit, though they would not admit it. Most of the self-financed schools make students buy not just the text books prescribed by the state board which may cost not more than Rs 350 for two semesters, but ask them to also buy “supplementary” texts by private publishers, pushing the book bill up by around Rs 2,500. The catch is these books are not readily available in the open market and the clueless parents have no choice but to buy them from the schools.
Sources say while these schools earn a hefty commission of 40 per cent or more on these books, they sell them at cover price without passing on the benefit of even a single rupee to the students. “Not only is it unethical to force parents to buy books from them, the schools are also making money by pocketing the margin,” said an official in the District Education Office. When contacted, Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama said the government had not received any complaint of this so far. But he added, “If true, then it is a serious issue. We will look into it and take necessary steps.” Until then, it is profit schools.
‘70 PER CENT SCHOOLS GUILTY’
The problem exists despite the fact that the standard of books brought out by Gujarat Council of Educational Research and Training (GCERT) for these classes has improved a lot in the last couple of years. The council is a pivotal institution at the state level for the enhancement of qualitative education at primary and secondary level and has elevated the standard to its national counterpart, National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), experts say.
While seeking affiliation with Gujarat board these schools vow to teach state board syllabus and follow the text book prescribed by it. But in reality they make their students buy several books other than those prescribed by the board. Sources say nearly 70 per cent of the self-financed English medium schools follow this practice. “To compound the students’ and their parents’ woes, schools never make a set of books from a single publisher. As doing so might help parents to procure them from the publishers, and thus eliminate schools’ profit, they deliberately collate books from various publishers so that the students and parents become completely dependent on schools for the books. This maximises their profit,” said the official.
STATE SYLLABUS MANDATORY
While school managements’ admit that the practice is rampant, District Education Officer (primary) M M Jani says he has not received any complaint of it so far. “Schools are bound to teach syllabus prescribed by GEB and follow books prescribed by it. If they don’t do so then action can be taken against them.
The board can even cancel its affiliation,” he said, adding “schools can teach lessons from other books, but it is mandatory for them to teach from texts prescribed.” Ahmedabad School Management Association Bhaskar Patel conceded that many schools were into this wrong practice. “Schools are obliged to teach the syllabus of the board they are affiliated with. Parents must raise the issue if schools are not following this. Primary Education Department is supposed to ensure schools teach the right syllabus,” he said.
Rajendra Rawal, a trustee of K R Rawal School in Ranip, said, “It is true that many schools like ours teach from books other than those prescribed by Gujarat board. But these books are essentially NCERT books and are meant only as supplementary reading. NCERT books maintain very good standard. Following NCERT books prepares the foundation for our students to compete at national level.” He added, “However, I must say, social studies books by Gujarat board is good and we follow them.” On the extra money that parents have to shell out to get those books, he said, “Those who come to our schools know that they have to pay more than in grant-in-aid schools. Besides, they have to spend money on books only once in a year. I think parents are ready for this.”
BOOKS IN SHORT SUPPLY
Students’ reliance on private publication books is accentuated by the fact that state board books are difficult to find in shops. Take the current situation. Schools have reopened and students have entered new classes, but most of the students from class first to eighth are yet to get to get their state board text books. As against this, private publishers’ text books have flooded the market. “Children do not get state board text books in shops even several months after sessions begin, whereas private publishers’ books are available well in advance. People will obviously lean towards the latter. It is a failure of the government system,” says Naresh Shah, president of Gujarat Books and Stationary Sellers Association. He also heads parents association.
