The new academic year will commence in a fortnight, and corporate schools and colleges are at it again – selling uniforms, books, stationary and shoes on their premises in gross violation of rules.
With the Education Department turning a blind eye to such practices, corporate school and colleges managements flout norms and make brisk business everyyear.
“This has been the case everyyear. In fact, this time, a few corporate colleges have tied up with a Mumbai-based leading textiles company for setting up a stall to sell uniforms, bags and canvas shoes on their premises,” says a shopkeeper at Vastralatha, a hub of textile outlets in Kaleswara Rao market.
Many traders in Vastralatha hope that sales will improve this year. “In the past, we used to look forward to commencement of the new academic year. But, for the last few years, sales have not been encouraging,” says Satyanarayana Murthy, another shopkeeper.
Parents are also worried about the rising expenditure on purchase of books, uniforms, bags and shoes.
“Compared to conventional stores, prices of uniforms, bags and shoes sold in schools and colleges are high. There is no other option but to purchase the articles from them,” says a parent.
Meanwhile, Krishna District Education Officer (DEO) D. Devanand Reddy, says no educational institution is permitted to sell such articles on the campus.
