The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has advised all schools to desist from forcing parents and guardians to buy uniforms from Schools as this is against the Competition and Consumer Protection Act.
The CCPC says it is with sadness that it has continued to receive complaints from some members of the public on these unfair practices.
CCPC Public Relations Officer Namukolo Kasumpa has re-emphasise and reiterate the Commission’s warning to such Schools who have taken the law upon themselves to engage in unfair trading practices will be followed accordingly.
Mrs. Kasumpa said it has also come to the Commission’s attention that some schools have also continued to link school places to buying of the uniforms at the same school, a situation which is unfair and against the law as it limits consumer choices.
She said this behavior by schools will not be condoned, and is equivalent to unfair trading practice.
“According to the Competition and Consumer Protection Act No. 24 of 2010, any institution or individual found guilty is liable to pay the CCPC a fine not exceeding ten percent of that person’s or enterprise’s annual turnover”, She said.
Mrs. Kasumpa added that the Commission will not allow this situation to continue as it is likely to cause high prices of uniforms and reduce consumer choice and quality, while on the other hand it excludes other alternative sources that provide similar uniforms.
She has called on parents and guardians to report any school that will force or turn away pupils on account of not buying uniforms from the school.
“The Commission is aware that uniforms need to be of a particular standard and therefore all schools should provide a general standard of what type, shade, length and color of uniforms that are required”, Mrs. Kasumpa added.
She said parents and guardians who purchase uniforms from other sources that produce similar uniforms at competitive prices must ensure the uniforms purchased comply to the standard of uniforms as guided by the school.
Mrs. Kasumpa has further advised the perpetrators to refrain from such vices immediately and has appealed to affected members of the public to report institutions of learning involved in this practice to CCPC as soon as possible.
Nangulande,tabomfwa
We shall not stop. Infact those of us with sewing machines have orders from GRZ schools. Iwe you want us to sleep hungry! Atase
What should be illegal is when some people put their pictures on exercise books, or maize bags being given to the poor.
It should also be illegal to put a serving president on a 50 Kwacha note. And why is Lungu’s head in the middle of this currency note? Is that how humble people behave?
This talk is useless,all international schools are doing that and everyone including government officials know about it cause there kids are there too. Show us by acting not talking.
So if everyone is doing it does it make it right?
Why is this illegal… this quite a common practice in the civilized world (in fact it is the only practice). As she mentioned, it is the standard and quality of the uniform and to prevent counterfeits and copycats.
Buying the uniform from the school also supports the school in revenue generation. Obviously the school shouldn’t overprice the uniforms. What this consumer protection agency needs to understand is that schools may also have contracts with the suppliers to produce minimum number of uniforms at a fee so if no one buys from school where are they going to find money to pay the suppliers?
Its illegal because they are likely to rip off Parents. …you should of standard design so you can buy in Shoprite
Or any shop
@Jay Jay “Its illegal because they are likely to rip off Parents.“…. how is ‘likely’ become illegal.
The issue that these ‘CCPC’ are supposed to be addressing is going after those who are ripping off parents, even though that would equally be a long shot to prove. But as is always the case with everything else in Zambia, selling of uniforms to students by schools was not supposed to be a business venture to generate profit. That is abusing the objective… the schools are supposed to sell the uniforms at exactly or almost the cost of making them, just raise the money to continue making the uniforms and recycling the process. The idea is to create a standard uniform; made with quality material to last longer; curb counterfeit and pay the supplier for the cost. That’s…
…That’s how it is done over here, including school bags and hats. Yes they can be slightly expensive but there is not abuse whatsoever.
I’m denying school can abuse the well intended process, but I’m totally opposed to the idea by the CCPC that this is illegal by schools. The abuse may be but asking students and parents to buy only the school standard uniforms.
See CCPC must be going after proper business companies who abuse Zambian consumers day in and day out and not flexing their weak muscles on schools which are not businesses to start with. No I don’t own any school or have shares in any school.
Read: “I’m NOT denying schools can abuse the well intended process…”
The schools are creating a monopoly…in the UK you can get uniforms in Asda Walmart at competitive low prices.
They just talk without any action…
Better to talk than you who sitting on your hands happy to pay!!
CCPC must write to all the DEBS as this practice is not only taking place in private schools but also in public schools.
CCPC You are very right,some schools are selling uniforms at an exorbitant price,let’s be fair. More especially private schools. In fact government schools are not supposed to sell uniforms, maybe the private schools, also if they put it at a reasonable price.
Too bad
This is a good move by the Cpc as it will see to it that parents are not exploited by some of these schools. It will also boost business in different industries especially the manufacturing industries that make uniforms. However, this will sort of bring confusion in terms of how the school going kids appear. Trust me someone will report to school in a charcoal grey Skirt and another in a light grey.
Contact Please. So we start reporting these cartels.
This is where mulungushi textiles should have come in instead of opening shopping malls and toll gates 24/7 Mr lungu.