At the end of the admission cycle in the state, the Hyderabad District Education Officer (DEO) on Friday, May 31, directed education officers in the city to ‘ensure that private schools do not sell uniforms, shoes and other such amenities in the school premises.’ The directive came despite the fact that several parents of students enrolled in private schools have already made purchases necessary for the 2024-25 academic year. “It is just an eye-wash,” Hyderabad Parents School Association (HSPA) general secretary Venkat Sainath Kadapa told TNM.
The Hyderabad DEO directed all Deputy Education Officers and Deputy Inspector of Schools to ensure that no private school management permits such purchases. They were also directed to constitute Mandal level committees to monitor and prevent such sales. If such sales take place, officials have been directed to bring it to the DEO’s attention “to take necessary action in the matter.”
“It is not an intention to curb unregulated sale of uniforms or books in schools. Most schools now are making parents purchase the needed items at an online portal,” Venkat added.
Venkat is referring to websites which cater to private schools like Ambitus World School and The Creek Planet School. It is worth mentioning that the Telangana government has as of yet not taken steps to curb arbitrary fee hikes in schools across the state despite several complaints and demands for the same from parents.