Apr 20, Kathmandu - The lack of effective oversight by the Curriculum Development Center has led to rampant black marketing and arbitrary pricing of textbooks in Nepal’s education sector. Despite the existence of approved prices, unauthorized publishers and vendors are selling textbooks at nearly 60% above the prescribed rates, with little action taken by relevant authorities.

Books without approval are flooding the market, and the authorities remain silent despite being informed of the illegal sales. Publishers are charging exorbitant prices, some nearly doubling the official rates, especially for books for nursery to kindergarten classes, which are not even required for early education.