Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has issued a strict directive prohibiting all private educational institutions from compelling parents to purchase books, uniforms, or other supplies from designated shops or vendors. A formal notification has been circulated to schools across the province to enforce this policy.
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The minister emphasized that legal action will be taken against any school found violating this order. This measure aims to break monopolistic practices, reduce the financial burden on families, and promote a transparent, competitive market for educational materials.
To ensure effective enforcement, parents are encouraged to report any incidents of schools forcing them to buy from specific vendors through the official Citizen Relationship Management (CRM) portal of the Punjab government:http://[https://crm.punjab.gov.pk/cmccpublic]
http://(https://crm.punjab.gov.pk/cmccpublic)
Key Directives and Implications:
Freedom of Choice: Parents now have the right to purchase textbooks, uniforms, stationery, and other required items from any vendor of their choice.
Anti-Monopoly Measure: The move seeks to eliminate commission-driven agreements between schools and particular shops, which often inflate costs for parents.
Transparency and Competition: By opening the market, the policy encourages competitive pricing and improves access to affordable educational resources.
Accountability Mechanism: The use of the CRM portal provides a direct, accessible channel for parents to register complaints, ensuring that violations are promptly addressed.
This step is part of broader efforts to regulate private school operations and safeguard parents from exploitative practices.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What exactly has been banned?
Private schools cannot force or pressure parents to buy books, uniforms, or any other school supplies from specific shops or brands. Parents are free to purchase from any seller.
2. How can parents report a violation?
Complaints can be submitted through the Punjab government’s official CRM portal:**. Detailed instructions for filing complaints are available on the portal.
