Lucknow Parents Outraged Over Mandatory Textbook Purchases from School-Tied Shops
Remember the days when students could start a new academic year with hand-me-down textbooks from older siblings or seniors? In Lucknow, that practice is becoming a distant memory, thanks to an alleged nexus between schools, booksellers, and publishers. A recent survey among parents has uncovered widespread frustration over being compelled to buy entirely new sets of books from authorized outlets, even when older versions are available.
Forced Full Sets and Frequent Updates
Parents report that schools are issuing lists with specific publishers and bookstores, often refusing to allow purchases from other sources. Shops allegedly do not permit partial buys, insisting on selling the complete set prescribed for each class. This forces families to spend significantly more, especially when older books could suffice.
Compounding the issue, publishers are frequently changing 3-4 chapters in older editions, rendering them obsolete and necessitating new purchases. This practice hits hard for classes I to VIII, where the problem is most severe.
Inflated Prices and Poor Quality
Beyond books, schools are also recommending shops for stationery and notebooks, which are sold at inflated prices compared to market rates. In some cases, the quality of these items is subpar. Parents like Rakesh Kumar Singh, president of a city-based school parents association, shared his experience: "At a parent-teacher meeting, we got a pamphlet with the publisher and bookstore names. I tried buying from Aminabad for a discount, but the books were only available at the school-prescribed store."
Kumar, with children in Class VIII and XI, noted that notebooks for his younger child cost Rs 1,300 at the recommended shop, while similar items from other publishers were just Rs 600.
Financial Strain on Families
The financial burden is immense. Rajnish Rastogi, a parent with a son in Class VII and a daughter in Class I, spent Rs 7,800 on books and Rs 2,400 on stationery for his son, and Rs 5,500 on books for his daughter. "In total, I spent around Rs 16,000 with no discounts, and my monthly salary is Rs 25,000. How do I manage my home? The government should regulate private schools," he lamented.
Other complaints include schools, including some run by missionaries, pushing for purchases of coffee table books, school merchandise like mugs, and unnecessary stationery like geometry boxes for junior classes.
Limited Availability and Parental Frustration
Abhinay Rastogi expressed frustration: "We're tired of hearing 'wahi milegi ye kitabe' (you'll get the books only there). Even in Aminabad, a bookstore hub, school-prescribed books are exclusive to recommended shops." Shipra Tiwari, whose daughter attends a prominent Gomtinagar school, faced similar issues, forced to buy from the prescribed seller due to lack of availability elsewhere.
Association Response and Proposed Solutions
Anil Agarwal, President of the Unaided Private School Association, acknowledged the problem: "We've called a meeting to address this. Only 4% to 5% of schools sell books on campus or recommend shops for parent convenience." He added that the association will propose measures such as not changing books for at least three years and uniforms for five years, and making stationery lists optional rather than mandatory.
This situation highlights a growing concern in Lucknow's educational landscape, with parents calling for greater transparency and regulation to ease financial pressures and ensure fair practices.
