The right to education is one of the most basic rights of every child in this country, and educational materials should be easily and affordably available at nominal prices. However, parents in Chandigarh and Lucknow are increasingly raising concerns over the rising cost of school books and prescribed materials, and the issue has quickly spread across social media.Based on the material shared online, the larger concern is not just the price itself, but the feeling that parents have little real choice once a school and vendor are already fixed.
Viral video shows distressed parents amid the high cost of children’s school supplies
The conversation picked up after a video and photos began circulating online, showing one parent holding a heavy stack of books and school supplies. In the video, he says, “I have come to collect the course materials for my children. The Chandigarh Education Department had stated that parents could purchase their children’s course materials from anywhere across Chandigarh, specifically, from any vendor stocking supplies for private schools.“
Parents call out ‘Education scam’ for costly books, uniforms and school supplies (Photo: @Benarasiyaa/ X)
He then adds, “However, rampant malpractice is currently prevailing among private schools throughout Chandigarh; the reality is that you can only obtain the specific course materials required for a particular school from a designated vendor, nowhere else. Just look at this: I am currently lugging around a load weighing at least 30 kilograms for my children. And here is the bill for the materials for class 2: Rs 9,000,” according to the video shared online.The same clip also shows him saying, “For some parents, the total comes to Rs 10,000; for others, it is Rs 12,000. Parents are distressed. The shopkeepers have pre-fixed and pre-printed the bills; their routine simply involves handing over the course materials, collecting the cash, and depositing it into their accounts.”
What parents allege
The issue is being discussed not only as a question of affordability, but also of transparency. In the same video, he says, “Regardless of whether the rates are inflated or reasonable, you cannot object, nor can you raise your voice in protest.You are compelled to pay exactly the amount printed on the bill they hand you, whatever figure they have written down. Neither the schools nor the Education Department are speaking up regarding this issue. I earnestly appeal to the entire Chandigarh Administration to take cognizance of this matter,” he added in the clip shared online.Along with the video, parents are also sharing images of school book lists from other cities. One such post by Piyush Rai shows a Class 1 book list from a private school in Lucknow with the total marked at Rs 4,359, as posted on X. The contrast between these figures has ignited even more debate about how much families are being asked to spend at the start of a new academic session.
Social media reactions
The post has triggered a strong response online, with many users demanding action and accountability. One user wrote, “This needs strict action. Public money and trust can’t be taken lightly. Accountability matters.” Another added, “Why not just digitise the copy and print it yourself?”
