Delhi Private Schools cannot pressure parents to buy books or uniforms from specific places: Manish Sisodia

After the Punjab government, now the Aam Aadmi Party-led government in Delhi has asked schools not to restrict parents from purchasing school uniforms, books, writing materials and other essentials from restricted places. 

The Delhi government has asked private and unaided schools to list at least five places where parents can purchase essentials for their children. Delhi Education Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced these new rules, warning that strict action would be taken against schools that do not adhere to them.

In a public notice, the AAP government pointed out that parents should have not only proper information about class-wise lists of books and writing materials as well as uniform specifications but also have wide choices of sources and places of buying the same. The government added that parents should have the freedom to choose where to purchase such books, writing materials, and uniforms.

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

A similar decision was earlier announced by Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, who is the first head of a state from AAP outside of Delhi.

As per rules, schools cannot force parents or students to purchase books, writing material, or uniforms from any selected vendor anymore. This was commonplace in many private schools in the national capital region.

Schools have been asked to display a list of books and writing material introduced in coming sessions in advance. Schools have also been asked to mention the specifications of uniforms accordingly.

"Private un-aided recognised schools in Delhi are run either by societies or trusts as a charitable organisation on no profit no loss basis. Thus, no school activity must have any scope of profit and commercialisation," read the official notice by the Delhi govt.