The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has taken notice of the conditional sale of notebooks, workbooks and uniforms with school logos and has issued show-cause notices to 17 private schools, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Friday.
According to the CCP, forcing students to buy expensive notebooks and uniforms with school logos is a violation of the Competition Act.
Many private schools have entered into secret agreements with specific vendors.
Copies with logos found to be up to 280 percent more expensive than the market.
Students have become ‘besieged consumers’ after admission.
About 50 percent of the country’s students are studying in private schools.
Compulsory purchase of expensive products is imposed in the name of guidelines.
Parents cannot buy from cheaper alternatives in the market.
Schools receiving notices include Beaconhouse, Westminster, City School, Head Start, LGS, Froebels, Roots International, Roots Millennium, CAPS, Allied Schools, Supernova, Darul Arqam, STEP, United Charter, Smart School.
Private school systems run thousands of campuses across the country.
Hundreds of thousands of students and parents are affected by these policies.
Parents are forced to accept all the commercial decisions of the school and students have become hostage consumers.
School management misusing its market power.
Private schools directed to submit written response within 14 days.
Competition Commission of Pakistan can impose fine of up to Rs75 million.
Reporter: Waqas Azeem