The Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) on Monday accused several schools in Dimapur district of fuelling the “commercialisation of education” by forcing parents to buy textbooks and uniforms exclusively from school-designated sellers at inflated prices, calling the practice illegal, exploitative, and discriminatory.
In a statement, the union said such restrictions deny parents the freedom to purchase from vendors of their choice and place an “excessive financial burden” on families, particularly those from economically weaker sections. “These impositions risk turning education into a privilege for the affluent rather than a fundamental right,” the DNSU stated.
The union asserted that no educational institution has the authority to mandate purchases from specific sellers and demanded an immediate halt to what it described as profiteering in the name of education.
Raising concern over frequent changes in textbooks, the DNSU said annual revisions “prevent students from using second-hand or hand-me-down books,” an option that has historically helped many families manage rising educational costs.
Terming the practice contrary to the spirit of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, the union said compulsory annual purchases and inflated pricing amount to commercial exploitation. It also cited Article 21 of the Constitution, stating that forcing parents into costly and restrictive choices undermines the right to live with dignity.
The DNSU further appealed to school authorities to refrain from frequent changes in uniforms or the introduction of new patterns without genuine necessity, stating that constant alterations compel parents to buy new uniforms – often from select suppliers – at high prices every year.
Describing the trend as a “loss of values” within the education system, the union urged school managements to introspect and realign with the core purpose of education, grounded in equity rather than profit.
While reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding student welfare, the DNSU said meaningful reform would require active cooperation from parents, noting that earlier attempts to address the issue had faltered due to lack of collective support despite widespread private complaints.
