Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to closely monitor private schools to prevent arbitrary practices that burden parents financially. School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond has issued a strong warning against institutions that “pinch the pockets” of parents by compelling them to purchase costly self-published or school-specific books.
Speaking on the issue, Minister Gond emphasized that such practices violate the spirit of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. He stated that it will now be mandatory for private schools to adopt NCERT textbooks, which are available at affordable prices and ensure quality and uniformity in education.”
The state government is taking the exploitation of parents very seriously,” the Minister said. “Some private educational institutions are forcing children to use their own published books purely for profit. This is unacceptable and against the National Education Policy. Children must study from NCERT books, which are reasonably priced and widely accessible.
“Parents have long complained that many private schools pressure them to buy expensive books and materials exclusively from designated shops or school campuses, even though the same or equivalent books are available at much lower prices in the open market.
The Minister’s statement has created a stir among private school owners and management. In response, the School and Mass Education Department is preparing a detailed roadmap to curb these malpractices. Formal instructions and guidelines are expected to be issued soon to all private schools across the state.
