Lured by commissions schools impose new textbooks on students every year

DHANGADHI, April 16: Private schools in the district change their textbooks every year depending upon the commissions they receive from publishers for using their books.

According to a representative of a publisher, they pay around 15 to 20 percent as commission to schools for using their books. "If the school has large number of students, they receive Rs 150,000 to Rs 200,000 as commission," he said, adding they also gift school operators with laptops, and computers, among others in addition.


As they add all the expenses including the commissions to the price of the books, the prices of these books are high. And, parents are forced to pay increasingly more amounts for books every year. "Books keep getting more and more expensive each year. It's even more difficult for poor people like me," said a parent, Bir Bahadur Bohara. The book prices are increased every year by at least Rs 50 to Rs 150 due to these invisible expenses. "Last year's book becomes useless this year as they keep changing publishers every year. We have to buy new books even if our children fail and remain in the same grade," he added.

"A decade ago, school operators used to consult subject teachers before changing books or publisher," said a local teacher, T R Binadi. "Now the commission-based system has changed the scenario completely," he added.

According to him, continuous changes in books have hampered children's education as well. "The contents are different in every book although the subject is the same. And students find it difficult to grasp the contents as presentation differs from writer to writer," said Binadi.

"Also, teachers are not given training to use new books. As a result, our teaching won't be as effective," he added.

There were 20 publishers in Dhangadhi two years ago. Now the number has soared to 44. "With increasing competition, commissions received by school operators are also increasing," said a local bookseller. Most of the schools have decided to use books published by Asia, Unique and Guinness publications," he said, adding that these publishers offer higher commissions. Ekata, United, and Sangam, are other famous publications in the district.

Meanwhile, RC Yadav, chairman of Private and Boarding Schools' Organization (PABSON), claimed he has no idea about the annual change of textbooks by private schools. "We'll take immediate action if anyone is found taking commissions from publishers for using their textbooks," he said.

Parents complained that authorities have chosen to turn a blind eye to the anomaly.

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