”Parents must have freedom to choose where to purchase schoolbooks; Govt to Probe Private Schools’ Book Practices; Committee to examine complaints of forced purchases, additional financial burden on parents”
Srinagar, Oct 14: Education Minister Sakina Itoo on Wednesday said the government would examine complaints against private schools allegedly forcing parents to purchase books from designated booksellers and imposing additional financial burdens on students, warning that action would be taken wherever violations are established.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with representatives of private schools, parent associations, NGOs and departmental officers, Itoo said a committee would be constituted to examine complaints regarding the prescribed books and ensure that students and parents were not subjected to unnecessary financial pressure.
“No private institution should direct any parent to buy books from a particular bookseller. That choice should be of the parents. They can buy books from wherever they want,” she said.
On the use of books other than those prescribed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), the minister said supplementary books could help enhance students’ knowledge but should not be imposed for financial considerations.
She said around 85 per cent of the syllabus was similar and maintained that additional books could be useful if students were interested in reading them.
“It should not be that books should be taught for the sake of money. Books should not be given to children who are not interested,” Itoo said, adding that complaints of books being imposed on students without any educational benefit would be examined.
The proposed committee will include representatives of parent associations, private school associations, NGOs, intellectuals and government officers. It will examine complaints and recommend action wherever allegations are found to be substantiated, she said.
The minister said the meeting also discussed the quality of education, textbooks and the results of examinations scheduled for November. She said the department had been working to address complaints and improve the standard of education in Jammu and Kashmir.
“We all want Jammu and Kashmir children to progress and become the best in the world,” she said, adding that schools had been connected through a virtual mode to facilitate coordination and address difficulties.
On school timings, Itoo said the government had issued an order revising the schedule, with schools in municipal areas to begin at 10 am and those in rural areas at 10.30 am.
Asked about a complaint concerning the death of a woman in Sheikhpora allegedly in the absence of medical staff, the minister said the government examines complaints of medical negligence and has taken action against doctors in cases where allegations were found to be substantiated.
She said action would also be taken in the future if an inquiry established that negligence by a doctor had resulted in a loss of life.
KNS
