Sales done, CBSE wakes up and issues notice

Hyderabad: Almost a month after many schools completed sales, the CBSE has asked affiliated schools not to indulge in commercial activities by way of selling books, stationery, uniforms and school bags within their premises or ask parents to purchase them from select vendors. CBSE deputy secretary (affiliation) K. Srinivasan quoted board bye-laws which state that schools should be run as a community service.

A management representative of a CBSE school said the notice had been issued very late as the academic year began in March, and parents had bought text and note books, uniforms, shoes and belts already. The officer said there were doubts over the availability of NCERT books and many schools had preferred private publishers.