The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has directed private schools to submit a written response within 14 days following an inquiry into the sale of notebooks, uniforms. The action comes after the CCP found that many schools were forcing students to buy expensive, logo-branded items.
The inquiry report states that private schools are abusing their dominant market position by compelling students to purchase specific notebooks, uniforms at highly inflated prices. Some items were reported to cost up to 280 percent more than similar products available in the open market. The investigation also revealed undisclosed agreements between schools and particular vendors.
According to the report, students become โcaptive consumersโ once admitted, as transferring to another school involves high readmission fees and logistical difficulties. This forces parents to comply with the schoolsโ commercial policies.
The CCP highlighted that around 50 percent of students in Pakistan attend private schools, which operate thousands of campuses nationwide. These practices not only burden millions of parents but also negatively impact small stationery and uniform vendors, limiting market competition.
The report criticized schools for labeling the mandatory purchase of branded notebooks, uniforms as โguidelines,โ effectively preventing parents from buying affordable alternatives from the open market. Such practices were deemed a violation of the Competition Act, as they represent a misuse of market power by private school administrations.
The CCPโs action underscores the need for accountability and fair market practices in Pakistanโs education sector. Schools are expected to respond to the commissionโs notice promptly, clarifying their policies and justifying their pricing of notebooks, uniforms.
Parents and advocacy groups have welcomed the CCPโs intervention, emphasizing that childrenโs education should not be used as a tool for commercial exploitation. The commissionโs findings are expected to set a precedent for fairer pricing and transparency in the private schooling sector.
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