Ask pvt schools to stop forcing parents to buy uniforms at ‘exorbitant’ price: BJP spokesperson to Delhi govt

Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor has urged the state government to instruct private schools to cease demanding parents purchase multiple sets of uniforms, shoes, and bags at "exorbitant" prices from their in-house stores starting in 2028. The spokesperson, also the party's Media Head in Delhi, penned a letter to Education Minister Ashish Sood and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday, urging them to encourage private schools to produce uniform designs that are simpler and more affordable.

Kapoor claimed that the schools are imposing an additional financial burden on middle-class families already struggling with high school fees. Upon inquiry, Sood's office declined to respond to Kapoor's letter. Kapoor expressed that while private school lobbies are powerful, parents represent a significant socio-political force.

He proposed two demands in the letter: firstly, that the government halt schools from requiring parents to buy multiple sets of uniforms, shoes, and bags from April 1, 2028, to allow time for schools to clear their existing stock and for parents to purchase simplified uniforms; secondly, a ban on schools selling uniforms, shoes, books, stationery, and bags to newly enrolled students from the school session beginning April 1, 2027.

Kapoor reported receiving complaints from middle-class parents across private schools, stating that they are compelled to buy special sports dresses and multiple types of shoes, along with at least three types of school dresses. He noted that most private schools design their own dress materials, making them available exclusively in the school's dress shops, often at inflated prices.

Kapoor emphasized that the financial strain is particularly severe for parents with multiple children, as they must buy new dresses twice a year in some cases. The financial impact is exacerbated by the differentiation in dress designs between schools, which Kapoor described as causing "heartburn" among students. Kapoor cited provisions within the Delhi Education Act, stating that the government could intervene to ensure schools offer fewer types of uniforms and regular sports shoes, keeping them affordable for parents.