Parents in Ramban rue frequent change of textbooks in private schools

Banihal, Nov 23: The frequent change of textbooks by private schools in sub division Banihal of district Ramban has triggered widespread concern among parents, especially those belonging to economically weaker sections.

The parents accuse the school authorities of deliberately pushing expensive books and promoting the cause of private publications, instead of government-prescribed textbooks.

According to parents, for most private schools in Banihal, the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) syllabus remains restricted to their official files only, while in practice they force students to purchase costly books from private publishers.

“Every year, schools introduce new books so that poor parents cannot reuse old ones,” said a parent of a Class 2 student, studying in a private school at Banihal town, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

He told Greater Kashmir that he recently purchased three books from a particular book seller for Rs 2,500, while three more books were still to be purchased.

“I have to spend more once the remaining books arrive. It is becoming very difficult for people like us to manage such expenses,” he said.

Another parent, whose child studies in Class 5 at a private school also in the Banihal town, said that he was forced to pay over Rs 4,000 only for private textbooks.

“This is a huge burden for middle-class parents. These school managements have a direct understanding with certain private publishers and booksellers,” he alleged.

Local residents believe that the directions issued by the Education Department in the Jammu division regarding the strict implementation of government-prescribed textbooks have remained confined to files and official circulars.

On the ground, they say, most private schools continue to ignore these instructions and impose their own choice of expensive books on students.

They have demanded immediate intervention by the Director of School Education, Jammu and the district administration Ramban, urging them to take strict action against erring private schools and ensure the implementation of the official curriculum in letter and spirit.

“The Director School Education in Kashmir division has already tightened the noose against private schools involved in such practices. Similar action is urgently needed in the Jammu division, especially in Chenab Valley areas,” locals said.