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Parents across cities are talking about how much they are spending on school books, and the numbers are raising concern. A video and a few photos shared online show how expensive course materials have become, with many saying they have no choice but to pay the full amount.
In the video, a man is seen standing with a large bundle of books and materials in his hands. As he speaks, he explains the situation faced by parents while buying school supplies.
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.”
“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,” he also adds.
He then talks about how the prices change for different families. “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.”
“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 said towards the end.
Along with the video, photos are also being shared by parents. A post by Piyush Rai shows a book list for Class 1 at a private school in Lucknow, with the total amount mentioned as Rs 4,359.
Hey! Quick question – could you share the total cost of books for your kids this new academic year? If it’s not too much trouble, I’d really appreciate a copy of the receipt too. Also, if you have any extra thoughts, a short video, or even a tweet about it, I’d love to amplify… https://t.co/m6xlmum2NR
— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) April 6, 2026
As more people see these posts, many are sharing their own experiences. A user said, “This needs strict action. Public money and trust can’t be taken lightly. Accountability matters.”
Another wrote, “Why not just digitise the copy and print it yourself?”
“We paid 7k for first standard books and 10k for uniforms,” someone commented.
“Mine is in lower KG and the books cost more than 4K,” a user stated.
