New Delhi, 23 April (H.S.): The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to all state governments following a growing number of complaints from across the country about private schools pressuring students and their parents to purchase textbooks published by private publishers. This action has been taken on the basis of a complaint filed by the think‑tank Namo Foundation, which alleges that such practices impose an undue financial burden and infringe upon children’s right to equitable education.

NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo stated on Thursday that state governments have been directed to ensure strict compliance with the National School Bag Policy and Section 29 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, and to submit detailed reports on the measures taken. The Commission has also asked states to provide data on the number of SCERT‑produced textbooks procured, the number of students enrolled in government and private schools, and the ratio of prescribed textbooks in both sectors for the current academic year.

The NHRC has questioned why, in cases where government schools provide NCERT and SCERT textbooks free of cost, the same system cannot be extended to private schools on a fee‑based model. The Commission has observed that differentiating between textbooks and curricula in private and government schools on the basis of management type amounts to academic discrimination and undermines the principle of equitable access to education.

The NHRC has also issued a notice to the Ministry of Education, seeking clarifications on why the syllabus prescribed by examination boards up to Class 8 differs from that laid down by the designated academic authorities such as NCERT. The Commission has cited concerns that excessive reliance on costly private publications increases school‑bag weight, imposes additional financial stress on families, and may contribute to a two‑tier education system driven by commercial interests rather than pedagogical and equity considerations.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar