Staff Reporter
Islamabad:The Competition Commission’s inquiry into the issue of forcing private educational institutions to buy notebooks and uniforms with the school logo proved the monopoly of private schools, the copies with the logo were found to be up to 280 percent more expensive than the market, show cause notices were issued to 17 large private school systems. The commission says that each private school can be fined up to Rs 75 million.The Competition Commission’s inquiry proved the allegation of forcing private schools to buy notebooks and uniforms with the logo, the schools establish a monopoly and sell copies with the logo at a price up to 280 percent higher than the market.The CCP issued show cause notices to 17 large private school systems and directed them to submit a written response within 14 days, the expensive private educational institutions refused to share fee data with the Competition Commission.The Competition Commission says that each private school can be fined up to Rs 75 million.The report states that students are forced to buy notebooks and uniforms with expensive logos. The Competition Commission says that after admission, students become trapped consumers. 50 percent of the country’s students are studying in private schools. In the name of guidelines, compulsory purchase of expensive products is imposed.The commission further said that parents cannot buy from alternative markets at cheaper prices. The schools that received notices include Beacon House, Westminster, City School, Head Start, Lahore Grammar School, Froebels, Roots International, Roots Millennium, Caps, Allied Schools, Supernova, Dar Arqam, STEP, United Charter and Smart School.The commission says that conditional sales or forcing parents and students is a violation of the Competition Act. Many private schools have entered into secret agreements with specific vendors.
