Surat: The Surat District Education Officer (DEO) has imposed a Rs 10,000 penalty on Mary Matha Public School for allegedly pressuring students and parents to purchase textbooks from a store operating within the school premises.

The action follows complaints from parents of students at the Pandesara-based school, who objected to the higher prices charged at the on-campus store and preferred to buy books from outside vendors.

After receiving the complaints, DEO Bhagirathsinh Parmar deputed a team to investigate the matter. The team interacted with school authorities and examined the allegations. Officials said the school’s response was found to be unsatisfactory.

Based on the findings, the DEO on Thursday issued a penalty notice to the school and directed it not to compel students or parents to buy books from the campus store.

Parmar said regulations of both the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSEB) and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) prohibit schools from operating stores on campus for the sale of books, uniforms or stationery. He emphasised that school premises should not be used for commercial activities and that parents are free to purchase educational materials from any vendor of their choice.

He further said schools must display the list of prescribed books on notice boards and share the details with parents through messages or on their official websites before the start of the academic session.

Parmar urged parents facing similar issues to approach the education department, assuring them that their identities would be kept confidential and that appropriate action would be taken. DeshGujarat