In the current educational landscape, schools, which should primarily serve as institutions for learning, understanding, and social development, have increasingly morphed into businesses. This shift has led to exorbitant tuition fees, beginning at the nursery level, with costs nearing lakhs for just a few months of education and approximately 5 lakhs for an entire year. These rising fees have ignited discussions among parents regarding the feasibility of sending their children to school. As education is a fundamental requirement, many families find themselves struggling to save money due to the financial burden imposed by these high expenses.
This economic pressure has compelled some parents to reconsider their family planning decisions, with some opting against having a second child, fearing they may not be able to meet the essential schooling expenses. Additionally, schools impose extra charges for various activities, such as annual functions, further adding to the financial strain that parents face. This can lead to feelings of shame and exclusion for children whose parents cannot afford additional costs, despite having paid high tuition fees.
A notable example of this financial drain is highlighted by Pooja Setia, who recently shared a screenshot on LinkedIn revealing a quarterly fee of Rs 1,24,780 per term (July to September, October to December, January to March), along with a payment entry for Rs 1,22,027 made on March 28, 2026. Such staggering fees have sparked concern, as they could instead fund higher education pursuits like graduation or post-graduation.
Overall, the current cost of schooling has become a significant barrier for many families, constraining access to essential education for their children. In the caption of her post, Setia added a humorous note, saying she was considering homeschooling her child and investing the same money in a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP). "At least that way, I'll be sure he graduates with a solid corpus, even if his handwriting is questionable," she said.
From this post, it is clear that there is growing concern among parents over the affordability of private schooling in urban India, especially at the pre-primary level.
SOURCE: LINKEDIN
Comments