Opposition party PKR today called upon the Education Ministry to reconsider its policies on the compulsory purchase of exercise books and to reduce food prices at school canteens as these can burden parents and their school-going children.

NONE “(Relevant authorities) and school administrations itself should take the best measures possible to tackle the issues and ensure the students’ comfort and their parents’ peace of mind,” consumer bureau chief Yahya Sahri said at a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.

Quoting unspecified reports by parents and teacher organisations from across the nation, Yahya alleged that schoolchildren are made to buy and carry more books then they actually used or need.

In particular, he singled out the A4-sized exercise books which every student must buy but which usage is “irregular” at best, as most subjects will use the regular-sized exercise books instead.

He further alleged parents are also complaining that there are too many activity books being required, while many of these remain unused for most of the school year.

“While for most of us, it is cheap to buy (the books) at three or five Ringgit a book. Imagine a person earning RM1,200 a month and he will have to pay for books for three of his kids who are schooling”.

More so, he said that the parents are claiming that the books, which must be bought from school cooperatives, are overpriced, with comparable ones cheaper outside.

The same goes, the parents claimed, as other school supplies sold at cooperatives.

Yahya also claimed that parents are grumbling over overpriced food at school canteens.

These problems Yahya said, can be solved if the ministry were to ensure the goods sold at school cooperatives are affordable and only necessary books are made compulsory, and it should also regulate and take action to ensure food at canteens are both nutritious and affordable for students.