Punjab govt sets up task force to probe complaints against private schools

The Punjab government has taken action in response to complaints made by parents and students against private schools. School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains has announced the formation of a task force in each district to investigate these complaints. Each task force will consist of three district principals and will report to the regulatory authority after conducting investigations.

The decision was made to prevent private schools from exploiting students and parents through excessive fees and charges. Bains has emphasized that the government will not tolerate education becoming a business and has urged private schools to adhere to laws and regulations.

Recently, a letter was sent to private schools in the state, instructing them to follow the school regulatory authority's guidelines on books, copies, and fees. Bains expressed his surprise at the sale of class 1 books for Rs 7,000 and has urged schools to teach only from NCERT books. The government has also mandated that schools in towns display the names of three to five shops from where students can purchase books, while institutions in cities like Ludhiana, Jalandhar, and Amritsar must list 20 such shops. Furthermore, the Punjab government has previously stated that private schools cannot force children to buy books, uniforms, or stationery items from specific shops.