As the new academic session kicks off, a familiar and frustrating struggle has returned for parents across the city. Despite strict directives from the District Collector prohibiting schools from forcing parents to purchase supplies from specific vendors, the educational cartel appears to be operating with total impunity. From MP Board to CBSE schools, the burden of education is no longer just on the students’ shoulders, it is weighing heavily on the parents’ pockets. The Monopoly Trap: Why Just One Store? The most glaring issue remains the lack of choice. Parents report that while schools provide a list of books with a suggested MRP, these materials are mysteriously unavailable at local neighbourhood shops. Instead, they are found only at a handful of ‘authorised’ stores. This scarcity has led to chaotic scenes across the city, with parents standing in long, gruelling queues for hours just to secure a basic set of textbooks. “If the administration says we are free to buy from anywhere, then why is it that no other shopkeeper in the city has these specific titles?” questioned one frustrated parent. The reality on the ground suggests that the ‘freedom of choice’ exists only on paper. Price Discrepancies: Higher Than the School’s Own List The financial strain is exacerbated by what appears to be blatant overcharging. Several complainants have pointed out a disturbing gap between the prices mentioned in the lists issued by schools and the actual prices charged at the counters.

 

One mother noted that while a book might be listed by the school at Rs 100, the storekeeper often sells it for Rs 130, Rs 140, or even Rs 150. Despite the price being mentioned in the MRP, the difference between the school’s list and the store’s price is staggering. For parents of LKG or UKG students, where a single book can sometimes cost as much as Rs 1,000, these “hidden margins” are becoming unbearable. The Burden of Constant Change: A ‘New Every Year’ Policy A concerned parent, speaking on the condition of anonymity, highlighted a systemic issue that prevents any possibility of reusability, turning every academic year into a fresh financial crisis. They pointed out that the lack of regulation allows schools to implement a ‘uniform overhaul’ strategy, where the attire for Nursery is distinct from LKG, which then changes again for UKG and Class 1. This constant shifting ensures that parents cannot pass down uniforms to younger siblings, forcing them to buy brand-new sets at exorbitant rates. The parent noted that even a basic track suit, often of mediocre or average quality, is priced as high as Rs 1,600 at these specific outlets. The frustration extends beyond clothing to what many are calling ‘disposable textbooks’. The parent shared that frequent updates to editions or sudden changes in publishers are used as a tactic to ensure that books from the previous year become obsolete.

 

This prevents the traditional practice of handing down books to the next child, mandating a fresh, expensive purchase for the exact same curriculum. With the cumulative effect of these forced purchases, primary education is effectively becoming more expensive than higher classes. Hefty Syllabus, Hefty Expenses A 4-to-5-year-old student is now expected to carry a library’s worth of books, including Writing, Maths, GK, Science, English, and Hindi. This hefty syllabus does not just burden the child physically; it places a massive financial load on the parents. Parent said that while the administration issues orders to curb these practices, there is a total lack of enforcement. Until the ‘specific store’ culture is dismantled and price caps are strictly monitored, the beginning of the school year will continue to be a season of financial dread for families rather than a celebration of learning.