Parents slam private schools over overpriced June

Parents say schools force private‑publisher books at MRP, pocketing 40–50%. Telangana Education Commission to probe ahead of June 12 reopening.

on Jun 09, 2025

Parents slam private schools over overpriced June

With schools opening on June 12 for the new semester, parents have been complaining that book rates are sky high, and they need to pay up to Rs 10,000 for primary class books alone.

Parents are complaining that the schools are forcing them to purchase books published by private publishers when less expensive options are available.

"For two children under the age of 10, we have paid over Rs 22,000 for books. Why are the books so expensive? What is so unique about these books as opposed to National Council of Educational Research and Training or state board books?" wondered K Ramana, a parent.

Another parent, Sri Lakshmi, said she had spent Rs 7,000 on books for her son's nursery. "I do not really understand what they are going to teach a three-year-old, except numbers, the alphabet and rhymes. Why do we have to pay all this for his books? It just feels like another unregulated market where schools are profiteering," she said.

Parents had grievances that, although schools receive discounts from the publishers, they did not pass on the same to parents. Therefore, parents are forced to pay MRP printed on books, while the managements are left with a margin of 40% to 50%, sometimes even more.

"Selling books on school campuses is not what schools are for. But most schools do have a stall within campus. Parents have no choice but to buy books at higher rates from these stalls when the same books are being sold at lower rates somewhere else on the net or at stalls nearby," said K Venkat Sainath, organising secretary of the Hyderabad Schools' Parents Association.

The Telangana Education Commission further revealed that they are aware of the issue, as various parents have reported their grievances with them. "This is a definite violation of the rules. Schools are not supposed to sell books. They must release the names of publishers and retailers so that parents can buy from wherever they want. But schools are forcing parents to buy books and even book covers at highly inflated rates from the school itself. The same is true of uniforms, shoes etc. We will bring this to the notice of the school education department," said PL Vishweshwer Rao, a member of the commission.