‘Students shouldn’t be forced to buy non-NCERT, non-SCERT books’

To facilitate affordable and quality education, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has asked the state education department and the education board to ensure that children are not forced to carry books other than those published or prescribed by the National Council of Educational Research Training (NCERT).

The commission, monitoring authority for implementing the Right to Education (RTE) Act, observed that some schools were discriminating against children for carrying NCERT books, forcing them to buy other books in the name of “additional syllabus” or “value addition”. 

A member of the commission, Preeti Verma, said the child rights panel had received complaints that some children studying in private schools, under the RTE Act, were harassed for carrying NCERT books and for being unable to afford books prescribed by the schools. She said that in some instances, children were forced to purchase non-NCERT or Non-SCERT books from schools or particular shops. “As per the complaints, children had to shell out extra money,” said an official.

Now, in a letter to the state, the NCPCR has underscored the fact that the State Council of Educational Research Training (SCERT) is the academic authority.

Priyank Kanoongo, chairperson NCPCR, said, “No child shall be harassed by any school for carrying books published or prescribed by the academic authority (NCERT or SCERT). If the school fines or takes any action against the child, it may attract (action) under provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.”

The national child rights body has also directed schools to display the necessary directions on their websites and notice boards. “A copy of directions should be circulated among parents by the schools,” said Kanoongo in the letter.

Activist Samina Bano said, “The RTE Act’s first task was to bring children to schools, besides providing them quality education.” She also talked at length about section 29 of the RTE Act, saying it was very important, as it dealt with learning level, curriculum and evaluation procedure in schools. The section also mentions the various aspects that the academic authority should consider while laying down the curriculum and the evaluation procedure.

Under the RTE Act, children are supposed to get free books and uniforms.