Stakeholders said that the Kathmandu Metropolitan City's (KMC) barring schools within the Metropolis from selling uniforms and books is a welcome decision.
The KMC had issued a circular three days ago appealing to all the public and private schools within the Metropolis not to compel students and parents purchase stationery materials and uniforms from the schools.
President of Parents' Association Nepal Keshav Puri said they had long been raising this issue and that all schools within the Metropolis should mandatorily comply with the KMC directives.
He viewed that the compulsion for the parents to procure books and uniforms from the school where their children are studying should be ended. "The KMC's action towards this end is commendable!" he commended.
Education expert Bidhyanath Koirala argued that the vicious cycle of commission in schools should be ended. He said, "The cycle of commission for uniforms, text books and stationery materials in private and private schools is a wrong thing. Books should be sold by the stationery shops not the schools. Everyone should follow this rule."
Similarly, Private and Boarding Schools' Organization (PABSON)-Nepal's Chairperson DK Dhungana said the rule that schools cannot sell uniform and books by themselves was in place since the beginning and schools affiliated with PABSON-Nepal have been complying with it.
Likewise, Community School Management Committee Federation of Nepal's Chairperson Gunaraj Moktan, admiring the KMC's decision, said, "It is a very good decision. Schools should not make parents a customer. Schools are supposed to spread knowledge but it appears that they have started doing business in the place of imparting knowledge. This step is good for controlling business."
It may be noted that the KMC had notified that schools should utilize text books sanctioned by the Curriculum Development Centre at Sanothimi, Bhaktapur from the new academic session 2081 BS.
In case of English medium books or additional text books, schools should utilize books translated and published by the Centre or those enlisted by the Centre.
In the circular, the KMC warned that violation of the rule shall be resulted in the action as per the Education Act-2028 BS, Education Regulations-2059 BS and Kathmandu Metropolitan City Education Act-2075 BS and other pertinent laws.
