NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has asked its affiliated schools across the country to shut down shops selling textbooks, stationery, schoolbags, uniforms, shoes and similar articles within their premises.
The board asked schools on Thursday to strictly comply with its affiliation byelaws and “not indulge in commercial activities”. This includes sales through “selected vendors”.
The directive comes close on the heels of the board’s effort to make schools follow NCERT textbooks and created an online link for schools to raise demand for these books in February this year.
CBSE’s circular on “commercial activities” in schools said the board had received complaints from parents and other stakeholders on schools “indulging in commercial activities by way of selling of books and uniforms etc within the school premises or through selected vendors” despite being asked not to do so.
“There is a nexus of profiteering. But our affiliation byelaws are clear that schools are a community service and not commercial entities. It is mandatory for schools to adhere to the provisions,” said R K Chaturvedi, chairperson, CBSE.
The circular asked school managements to strictly comply with its directive.
