Days after parents whose children study at the Baldwin group of schools in Bengaluru protested against the exorbitant rate of books, the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KCPCR) directed the school to stop the sale.
One of the parents, who has been fighting to ensure that the books aren’t sold at sky-high prices, confirmed that the sale of books has been stopped.
“The respondent schools is directed to stop selling of books immediately till further orders. The DDPI and BEO is directed to ensure the respondent school follows the direction and report compliance forthwith (sic),” the interim order signed by chairperson Kripa Alva stated.
According to Deccan Herald, the Department of Public Instruction also listed the officials who will stay on the school’s premises to ensure that the sale does not continue.
A probe was launched by the Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) after the parents complained to the Education Department.
A probe was also launched by the District Education Regulatory Authority (DERA), which called the institution for a hearing on May 23. As the school didn’t send any representative other the advocate, the next hearing was posted for June 2. DERA had asked the school management and the parents to resolve the manner in which the books would be sold by the next hearing, but a parent said that there has been no communication as of Thursday morning.
The parents had protested outside the school’s campus in Rajarajeshwari Nagar on May 21. The school had allegedly asked students to submit demand drafts for the books for the next academic year, but had not even prepared the book list. The parents who paid were forced to go to a hotel to collect the books.
“I inspected the premises. They are booking convention halls outside to sell the books. I have deputed my team to ensure the school follows the KCPCR orders. If the school is found to sell books, an FIR will be lodged,” Ashwathanarayana, DDPI South, told Bangalore Mirror.
Private schools cannot force students to only purchase their books from a select vendor.