In an attempt to restrain private schools’ arbitrariness and to curb the nexus of school managements and book publishers, SDO, Bhor Singh Yadav conducted raids at few schools on Tuesday. Recently, Ranchi DC, Manoj Kumar had ordered the officials to conduct raids under the section 144 (1) for compelling the guardians to buy books only from a particular outlet selling stationery items at capricious cost.
Taking stringent action, a team of officials formed under the SDO conducted raid at lady KC Rai Memorial School at Ratu. “After receiving the information about the school management’s dictatorial role that they are selling books on campus premises in spite of orders a team carried out the raid. Few such cases have come to us and several institutions are under the radar of the administration,” said Yadav.
Notices have been sent to the school managements describing the rules and guidelines a week ago. All the senior authorities of the schools have been informed that, schools violating the order will be heavily penalised. The district administration has formed a team to crackdown bookstores selling books and other stationeries at a heavy price. Actions will be taken against those schools that sell books on their campus premises.
“More than 60 private schools and approximately 20 book shop owners have been given the notice. After conducting inspection, few more schools will be sent a notice. Even on a guardian complain, the administration will take appropriate action. A written complaint with all essential and valid documents that includes receipts and booklist having a bookstore name is required from parent’s side as well, if we they approach to the administration,” Yadav further added.
The team is also consulting the Department of School Education and literacy to crackdown more such cases and soon a proposal will also be drafted out to curtail the monopoly. Nevertheless, as several books are available at a particular shop only, it will be difficult for a guardian to deal with such crisis in the beginning of the academic year keeping thousand student lives at stake in the coming days.
However, the SDO has assured that plans are being made that NCERT books and other reference materials are available in sufficient number. Several parents including the school principals have cited that NCERT books are not supplied in adequate number to meet the requirement which creates the muddle every year.
“No private schools can ever compel the guardians to buy books from a designated shop. At times, for the convenience of students, name of few shops are suggested to the guardians. Our school management, every year upload the booklist details on school website. Parents are not bound to visit any specific shop. Sometimes, even book stores drag the name of schools if they come under administrative vigilance,” said Kairali School, Principal, Jacob CJ on the issue.