The NHRC has directed a pan-India audit of school textbook practices, citing concerns that the insistence on costly private publications places an undue financial burden on parents and violates the right to education. The commission emphasised that education must remain accessible and affordable, and profiteering through mandatory book purchases undermines this principle.
The commission has sent notices to key authorities, including the Ministry of Education (MoE), the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and all state governments and Union Territories.
These bodies have been asked to submit detailed reports on the adoption of NCERT/SCERT textbooks in private schools and explain measures taken to enforce existing norms.
The commission raised concerns that many private schools allegedly pressure parents to buy books from select publishers, bypassing NCERT/SCERT materials. NCERT and SCERT textbooks are designed to ensure uniformity, affordability, and quality in school education. The practice of mandating private textbooks is seen as discriminatory, creating inequality between students from different economic backgrounds.
The Commission highlighted that the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009 mandates free and compulsory education up to Class VIII, and schools must not impose unnecessary financial burdens. By insisting on private textbooks, schools are violating both the spirit of the RTE Act and CBSE guidelines, which clearly recommend NCERT books for affiliated schools.
The NHRC has sought compliance reports from the Centre, CBSE, and states. This includes details of enforcement mechanisms to ensure schools follow NCERT/SCERT norms and steps taken to prevent profiteering in the education sector.
This move could lead to stricter monitoring of private schools’ practices, greater enforcement of NCERT/SCERT textbook usage and relief for parents struggling with rising education costs.