Despite clear guidelines issued by the CBSE and NCERT mandating that academic books be made available at subsidised rates and strictly prohibiting schools from forcing parents to buy them from specific vendors, parents in Jalandhar’s private schools continue to shell out thousands of rupees for prescribed book sets sold through a limited network of outlets.
As per CBSE norms, affiliated schools are also required to upload a class wise list of prescribed books on their websites to ensure transparency. However, while many schools technically are complying with this norm, parents allege that details of many books are deliberately omitted. Workbooks, activity books and supplementary materials often forming a significant portion of the total cost are not listed, leaving parents blindsided at the time of purchase.
Ramneet Kaur, whose daughter studies in Class I at a CBSE affiliated school near Pathankot bypass said, “My daughter has five subjects this academic session, but we were asked to purchase nearly 26 books. Out of these, 15 are just storybooks along with multiple workbooks. None of these books carry an MRP. We are forced to buy the complete set for Rs 4,875.”
She further alleged that schools restrict purchases to a handful of authorised vendors. “We are told to buy from only four or five specific shops, which is clearly against the rules,” she added.
Echoing similar concerns, Gurleen Kaur, a parent of a pre-nursery student said even the youngest learners are not spared. “For children below Class I, vendors are charging close to Rs 5,000. Books are available only in bundled sets at select shops, leaving us with no choice.”
She also pointed out the repetition of unused material. “There are workbooks like Abacus and Rangometry that were not even used last year, yet they are being pushed again. It feels like a money making exercise rather than an academic requirement,” she said.
Highlighting the stark cost disparity, Rohit Mehta, another parent said, “My child studies in Class 10th in a PSEB affiliated school. I bought the full set of Punjab School Education Board books for around Rs 1,200. In private schools, parents are being forced to spend nearly four times more. This is simply unfair. Authorities must fix an upper price limit. No school or publisher should be allowed to sell beyond that,” he added.
When contacted, Gurinderjeet Kaur, District Education Officer (Secondary) said, “We have not received any formal complaints regarding inflated book prices. If any parent submits a written complaint, a district level committee will conduct an inquiry. If violations are found, the matter will be escalated to the district fee regulatory body.”
However, parents say the issue is far from new. Several protests have been held outside private schools in Jalandhar over the years against the inflated cost of books and forced vendor tie ups. But, despite recurring outrage and clear regulatory guidelines, little has changed on the ground leaving parents burdened and accountability elusive.
