Srinagar, Dec 19, KNT: Private schools in Srinagar are drawing criticism for charging exorbitant rates for textbooks, with parents accusing them of turning education into a profit-driven enterprise.
The financial strain is particularly evident in kindergarten levels, where the cost of book sets has skyrocketed, leaving parents questioning the ethics of such practices.
Abdul Rashid, a parent whose child attends Oasis School in Gogji Bagh, Srinagar, shared his frustration over the steep prices. “I paid nearly Rs 5,500 for the book set of my UKG kid. This is an outrageous amount for books meant for such young children,” he told the news agency Kashmir News Trust.
Similar grievances have surfaced from parents of students in other private schools, who argue that these institutions are inflating prices under the pretext of providing books of “International Cambridge standards.
Parents have expressed concerns about the commercialization of education, which they claim is becoming increasingly unaffordable and intolerable. “Education has become a business,” one parent lamented. They emphasized that while quality education is essential, the financial burden imposed by schools is forcing many families into difficult situations.
The Director Education recently issued a warning to private schools, cautioning them against selling books at inflated prices.
Parents are calling for stricter regulations and greater transparency in school operations to alleviate the financial burden on families and ensure education remains accessible to all.
“Authorities must curb this practice and ensure that parents are not exploited in the name of international standards,” said parents. [KNT]
