Srinagar, Jan 16: Despite multiple directives from the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) and the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE), many private schools in Srinagar continue to push parents into purchasing textbooks from private publishers and other stationery from specific vendors, violating government directives and placing an undue financial burden on families.
In 2023, DSEK issued a circular directing private schools to refrain from recommending specific shops for textbooks, uniforms and stationery. The directive also emphasized the need for schools to follow the JKBOSE or NCERT curriculum, ensuring parents have access to affordable and standardized educational materials. It also emphasized that textbooks prescribed by the schools should be available in the open market, giving parents the flexibility to choose where to buy them.
The JKBOSE has also issued strict instructions requiring all private schools to follow the textbooks prescribed by the board. The board has warned that schools failing to comply with these directives could face penalties, including fines of up to Rs 50,000.
To enforce these directives, monitoring committees have been established at the district level, comprising Chief Education Officers (CEOs) and Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs).
On January 5 2025, Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) Dr. G N Itoo also emphasized the need for private schools to strictly follow the department’s rules regarding the prescription of textbooks. He instructed schools to upload textbook details on their websites within three days. DSEK also directed all Chief Education Officers in the Kashmir Division to ensure compliance with existing regulations and to collect daily reports from monitoring committees.
Despite these measures, implementation remains inconsistent, with many private schools reportedly continuing to flout regulations. Parents allege that some schools prescribe additional textbooks beyond the approved curriculum and compel them to purchase from specific vendors at higher prices.
Javed Mir, a parent from Lal Chowk, said, “I spent Rs 4,500 on books for my child in Class 3rd. We are left with no option but to purchase these books from designated vendors, even though the prices are unreasonably high.”
Naseer Tantray, another parent shared that they paid Rs 6,676 for a set of 26 books for a Class 6 student, of which only four were NCERT-approved. “The additional books prescribed by the schools increase the costs significantly,” he said.
“Private schools in the region have turned into money-making businesses,” said Riyaz Ahmad, a parent from Raj Bagh. Aijaz, another parent from Mehjoor Nagar said, “We choose private schools for quality education, but being forced to purchase additional materials beyond the JKBOSE or NCERT books is unfair.” Another parent from Gogji Bagh added, “It’s not just the textbooks. We are forced to buy uniforms and even stationery from specific shops at higher prices. This entire system is designed to exploit parents.”
Khurshid Khoja, President of the Parents Association of Private Schools Kashmir (PAPSK), criticized the growing nexus between private schools and publishers. “There is a clear connection between private publishers and private schools. The dual curriculum followed by these schools must be brought to an end. Despite submitting evidence and filing multiple complaints, the education department remains unresponsive,” he said.
Khoja further revealed that the Association had recently met with the Education Department to address these issues but saw no tangible action. “The government must step in and ensure relief for parents,” he added.
Despite multiple attempts, Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) Dr. G N Itoo could not be reached. Rising Kashmir also tried to contact G N Var, President of the Private Schools’ Association J&K, for insights on the issue; however, he remained unavailable for comment.
Meanwhile, parents are urging authorities to intensify enforcement of the existing regulations and penalize schools that violate them. “We hope the authorities will intervene and put an end to this exploitation,” said Altaf, a parent from Hyderpora.
