After session starts, govt issues norms on uniforms, stationery

Jaipur: In a fresh order regarding school uniforms and stationery issued this week, education minister Madan Dilawar has ordered that private schools must maintain the same uniform for at least a five-year period. Schools have also been prohibited from compelling parents and pupils to purchase uniforms and books from specific vendors. The education department warned of strict consequences for those who violated these guidelines.

"Private schools will use only approved syllabus books following the rules and regulations of their affiliated board. The list of books (including author, publisher, and price) should be displayed on the school's notice board or website one month before the start of the session. Parents and students will be able to buy books from the open market as per their convenience," the guidelines state.

Directives also specified that teaching materials should not bear school names, and there should be no compulsion to purchase books or supplies from particular shops. "Private schools will ensure that textbooks and uniforms are available at least three vendors," the guidelines say.

Parent organisations in the state expressed that these directives should have been issued prior to the academic session's beginning. Sanyukt Abhibhavak Sangh , which represents concerned parents in the state, noted the department's earlier silence when these guidelines were most needed.

"What could be more unfortunate for Rajasthan and the parents than the fact that when the Education Minister was supposed to issue guidelines, he remained silent. Now, he is issuing them after all parents have already bought textbooks, educational materials, uniforms, etc., according to the whims of the schools. He is only engaging in poster campaigns to show sympathy and no strict orders for action have been issued," said Abhishek Jain Bittu, state spokesperson of Sanyukt Abhibhavak Sangh.