‘Unruly’ private schools to face Govt crackdown over profiteering
Srinagar, Nov 7: The Jammu and Kashmir government is likely to convene a high-level meeting to address the growing number of complaints against private schools accused of illegal profiteering and blatant violations of government orders.
Despite strict directions to adopt textbooks prescribed by the J&K Board of School Education (JKBOSE) for all classes, several affiliated private schools continue to prescribe books from private publishers—sold at exorbitant rates to parents.
Over the years, private schools have been repeatedly accused of defying official directives by adding extra textbooks from private publishers alongside JKBOSE books. Parents say these practices are designed to inflate costs and burden families unnecessarily.
“One textbook from a private publisher costs three times the amount of a complete set of JKBOSE books,” a parent told Greater Kashmir. “These schools have turned education into a business. They make these expensive textbooks available only at select bookshops,” he added.
Parents said that even if schools prescribe additional reading material, it should be made available in the open market rather than through specific retailers. “Book sellers and schools have an understanding with publishers. The schools get commissions, and parents are forced to pay inflated prices,” alleged another parent.
They also complained that the School Education Department had failed to act decisively against such profiteering. “If a complete set of JKBOSE-prescribed textbooks for primary classes costs around Rs 700, a single additional textbook from a private publisher costs Rs 500 to Rs 600,” one parent said.
Parents said some JKBOSE-affiliated private schools were even prescribing the Cambridge curriculum, where a full set of textbooks costs between Rs 7,000 and Rs 8,000. “This is beyond the reach of most parents. These extra books serve no purpose other than profit,” said another parent.
Under the J&K Board of School Education Act, 1975, the JKBOSE is the sole authority to prescribe courses, curricula, syllabi, and textbooks for all grades. The Board has repeatedly directed all affiliated schools to adopt its prescribed books, warning of strict action against violators.
In March 2024, the JKBOSE instructed its sub-offices to conduct inspections to verify whether private schools were adhering to Board-approved textbooks for the 2024–25 session. The directive also cautioned schools that non-compliance would invite penalties.
Despite these warnings, the violations have continued unchecked, prompting widespread frustration among parents and renewed attention from the Education Department.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, Education Minister Sakina Itoo admitted that the complaints were serious and growing. “These private schools have become unruly. I am personally receiving a lot of complaints against them. It has become a major issue,” she said.
“I will convene a meeting with representatives of private schools and the Fee Fixation and Regulation Committee (FFRC). We will definitely find a solution to this problem,” Itoo said, adding that the government will not allow parents to be exploited under the guise of education.
Officials said the upcoming meeting would review fee structures, textbook violations, and compliance with existing regulations. The Education Department, they added, is also exploring new monitoring mechanisms to curb profiteering and restore accountability in the private school sector.
These private schools have become unruly. I am personally receiving a lot of complaints against them. It has become a major issue.
— Sakina Itoo,
Education Minister
