The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has cautioned schools against the practice of tying school admission or placement to the compulsory purchase of uniforms from schools themselves or from designated suppliers.
In a statement issued at the start of the academic year, CCPC Senior Public Relations Officer Florence Zaza said the practice remains prevalent among some learning institutions, despite being prohibited under the law.
Ms. Zaza stated that forcing learners, parents, or guardians to buy school uniforms exclusively from a school or selected suppliers violates the Competition and Consumer Protection Act No. 24 of 2010, as amended by Act No. 21 of 2023.
She explained that such conduct restricts consumer choice and often results in inflated prices, limited options, and compromised quality for parents and learners.
Ms. Zaza warned that school authorities engaging in these practices should be aware that the law expressly prohibits such conduct, as it infringes on consumer rights and distorts fair market competition.
The Commission noted that restricting uniform purchases to specific suppliers excludes other competitive market players, creates unfair advantages, and undermines healthy competition.
While acknowledging the need for school uniforms to meet prescribed standards, CCPC emphasised that schools should only provide guidelines on the type, shade, and colour of uniforms required. Parents and guardians, the Commission said, must be free to purchase uniforms from any supplier of their choice, provided the uniforms meet the stipulated standards.
Ms. Zaza commended members of the public who have reported such practices, as well as schools that have complied with the law following engagement by the Commission. She encouraged parents and guardians who encounter similar conduct to promptly lodge complaints to enable timely intervention.
The Commission has warned that failure to comply with the law may attract penalties of up to 150,000 penalty units for individuals and up to 10 percent of annual turnover in the case of enterprises.
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