Prices of school textbooks rise as set to schools reopen next month

BENGALURU: The prices of essential commodities are continuously rising under the Congress government’s rule in the state. After Metro and bus fares, milk and diesel prices, electricity and water bills, prices of textbooks have also risen by 10-20 per cent this year.

Parents are worried about saving money for their children’s school admissions next month after the summer vacation. The government has quietly increased the prices of textbooks without any announcement.

The Karnataka Textbook Society has hiked the prices of textbooks. Despite the Education Minister’s assurance that textbook prices will not be increased, private educational institutions claim that prices have risen by 10-20 per cent.

Shashikumar, secretary of private educational institutions’ association, says that the increased burden of textbook prices will directly affect parents. Private schools may also charge more fees from parents, citing the government’s price hike.

“The book prices have been increased. No one asks if the government hiked prices. But if private organisations raise prices, it will become a big issue. Private organizations raised textbook prices by 10 pc to 15 pc from January to date. The increased price will definitely affect parents of children. The textbook price will increase twice in a year, and the government should clarify or make an announcement. The state minister lacks information, and he should give clarity on it”, Shashikumar said.

The private educational institutions claim that they will infor parents that the fee increase is due to the government’s decision to raise textbook prices, rather than taking responsibility for the increase themselves.