Private schools defy orders, parents pay the price
Srinagar, Nov 2: As schools prepare to reopen for the new academic session, parents across Kashmir have raised serious concern over what they describe as the continuing “highhandedness” of private educational institutions that are allegedly prescribing additional textbooks despite clear government directions.
The move, parents say, has once again exposed the unchecked commercialisation of education, as these supplementary books—often from private publishers—are sold at selected bookshops for exorbitant prices.
“If a full set of textbooks prescribed by JKBOSE for primary classes costs only around Rs 600 to Rs 700, a single additional textbook costs Rs 500 to Rs 600,” said Muhammad Arif, a parent from Srinagar. “It’s a deliberate burden on parents, and schools are clearly profiting from it.”
Several parents accused private schools of prescribing extra books to earn commissions from publishers. “Some schools affiliated with JKBOSE claim to follow the Cambridge curriculum, where a single set of textbooks costs between Rs 7000 and Rs 8000. This is beyond the reach of most parents,” said another parent.
Parents argue that these additional textbooks are neither part of the basic curriculum nor academically necessary, but are introduced only to inflate costs and complicate the learning process for students.
As previously reported, the J&K Board of School Education (JKBOSE) has made it mandatory for all private schools to adopt its prescribed textbooks across all grades—from primary to higher secondary levels—under the J&K Board of School Education Act, 1975.
“The Act authorises JKBOSE to prescribe courses of instruction, curricula, syllabi and textbooks for all academic levels,” reads an earlier circular issued by the Board.
In March 2024, JKBOSE had directed its sub-offices to conduct inspections to verify whether private schools were adhering to the use of Board-approved books for the 2024–25 session. The Board had also warned of action against schools found violating these norms.
Speaking to Greater Kashmir, JKBOSE Secretary Ghulam Hassan Sheikh said that textbooks prescribed by the Board are already available in the market.
“Textbooks worth Rs three crores have been sold for market supply. The books are readily available, and private schools have no excuse to prescribe material from private publishers,” Sheikh said.
He added that schools are explicitly informed at the time of affiliation that they must follow JKBOSE-prescribed books. “As per the law, private schools have to prescribe only JKBOSE textbooks,” he reiterated.
Sheikh also confirmed that 50 percent of textbooks meant for free distribution to government schools have already been received. “The remaining supply will reach in the coming days, and we will ensure that all schools receive their textbooks by November 20,” he said.
