The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has directed all the schools affiliated under it to ensure that only books of National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) are prescribed by them to the students. The board has threatened to take strict action against the schools not conforming to the order.
The regional officer of CBSE Dehradun, Ranvir Singh told The Pioneer that schools have been clearly told to use only the books of the NCERT. The schools can opt for the books of other publishers only when the NCERT books are not available in that particular subject. He said that the many private schools used to take excuse for not recommending the books of NCERT on the plea that NCERT books are not available in the market. The CBSE took the matter with the NCERT and asked the schools to send the tentative number of books needed by them in advance. Singh informed that the NCERT has a network of 800 vendors across the country and all books are available with them.
The President of All Uttarakhand Parents Association (AUPA), Neeraj Singhal however refuted the claim of the CBSE that most of the schools are following the order on NCERT books. “Most of the private schools are openly flaying the order. When the CBSE asked the schools to send the number of the books needed by them, the schools either didn’t followed the directive or sent a very small number to hoodwink the authorities. The problem is that these schools are so well connected that no official dares to take action against them,’’ he said.
The parents association allege that there exists a nexus between the private school owners and the publishers. On the basis of the student strength in a school the publishers offer the commission percentage and also offer a hefty amount as an advance to the private school owners. The schools give their nod to the books of that publisher who offers the best deal. After the deal with the publishers the school owners tie up with the book shop owners. The book shop owners are also keen to struck deal with the schools as it gives them a big client base and ready made customers.