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Expert explains what can and cannot be done at the time of registration
Adjustments can be made by presenting justifications to the consumer
Published on January 25, 2024 at 08:00
With just a few days to go before the start of the school year for children and teenagers in Bahia, concerns about school enrollment and material lists are a reality for parents of students. During this period, it is common for those responsible to record abuses committed by some educational institutions, which may randomly increase enrollment fees and require items intended for collective or managed use.
According to the director of the Superintendency of Consumer Protection and Defense of the State of Bahia (Procon-BA), Iratan Vilas Boas, adjustments to registrations can be made, but must be justified to the consumer through a cost spreadsheet. The agency requires the consumer to present the document in advance, more specifically up to 45 days before the last day of registration.
“The adjustment cannot be done randomly, it must be done using plausible justifications. Knowing the institution’s justification, the consumer can choose to continue at that school or not”, says Vilas Boas.
Normally, justifications are plausible when they involve an improvement in the student’s pedagogical plan, such as new offers, such as the inclusion of computer and English courses, previously not offered by the institutions, or the expansion of class hours.
If any irregularity is observed in the enrollment adjustment, those responsible for the students must seek out specialists or Consumer Protection bodies who can carry out the work of verifying the justifications presented by the service providers. Municipal coordinators are authorities responsible for this task. In Salvador, the Consumer Protection and Defense Actions Directorate (Codecon) responds to complaints through the Codecon Mobile application and through the website.
List of materials
Still according to Iratan Vilas Boas, prohibited items are not determined by Procon. What the body assesses is the direction of products required by schools: it is prohibited to require items that will be intended for collective and administrative use, in addition to the institution’s cleaning products. “We don’t define the product, but rather its destination”, says Iratan.
In Bahia, the Secretariat of Justice, Human Rights and Social Development of Bahia (SJDHDS) requires that schools must present a teaching plan, explaining in detail the destination of the product.
The director of Procon-BA also informs that institutions cannot require the brands of school materials and the places where the objects must be purchased. Furthermore, they cannot force the purchase of books or other materials at the institution itself.
If they notice irregularities in the list of school materials, consumers must register complaints through the Procon-BA application, Procon BA Mobile or directly at the agency’s service points.
*With guidance from deputy reporting chief Monique Lôbo
