The Hidden Costs of Private Schooling in India: How Parents Are Being Exploited
The private school sector in India is expanding rapidly, but families are paying a high price for this expansion.
Although private schools are promoted as excellent substitutes for public ones, exorbitant tuition costs, unstated fees, and pushy commercial tactics are driving many parents to the edge of their seats.
Unprecedented Fee Hikes
Surveys reveal a staggering escalation in private school fees:
- In the previous three years, 44% of parents experienced fee increases of 50–80%, and 8% reported increases exceeding 80%.
- In the past two years, fifty percent of parents reported that fees increased by 30–50%, while 8% faced increases exceeding 50%.
- Local examples underscore the crisis: In Andhra Pradesh, some schools have raised annual fees from ₹34,000 to ₹50,000 in a single year, with additional charges for “building funds” and infrastructure.
- In Delhi, fees at certain schools have increased twofold over the past five years, with families now being asked to pay nearly ₹1.9 lakh per year—up from ₹93,400 in 2020.
Additional Hidden Costs
- The real cost of private schooling goes far beyond tuition:
- Uniforms, books, transport, and activity fees can add ₹20,000–₹1,00,000 annually.
- Bus charges alone may be ₹25,000 per year, and textbooks upwards of ₹7,000.
- These mandatory extras often double the overall expense, making private education inaccessible for many middle-class families3.
Exploitive Business Practices
- Parents allege that some schools use aggressive tactics to maximize profits:
- Services such as uniforms and books are frequently obtained from companies associated with school trustees, leading to concerns about potential self-dealing.
- Some schools raise their annual fees year after year and require full payment up front, while instructor salaries fall behind.
- There have been reports of students being expelled or barred from classes for non-payment of increased fees, with security personnel escorting children out of classrooms.
Public Outcry & Lack of Oversight
- The backlash is growing:
- Protests have erupted in Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and other cities, as parents demand government intervention and fee regulation.
- In Telangana, fee hikes of up to 60% have prompted calls for a statutory commission to cap private school fees.
- Enforcement remains weak—many schools flout requirements to file fee data, and regulatory mechanisms are either absent or ineffective.
Consequences for Families & Education Equity
- The fallout is severe:
- Over 1 crore fewer students are now enrolled in private schools compared to 2018–19, as families are forced to switch to government schools or cut back on other opportunities.
- Many parents dip into savings, take loans, or forego extracurriculars and coaching to afford fees.
- At the elite end, annual fees can reach ₹13 lakh in major metros—an amount out of reach for all but the wealthiest families.
- The result is a deepening of educational inequality, with quality learning increasingly tied to financial privilege.
“We never thought a school of this stature would treat children like this—bar them from classrooms, assign bouncers and make them sit in the library.” — Divya Mattey, parent fighting a fee hike in Delhi.
“At this rate, are we preparing kids for school… or preparing parents for bankruptcy?” — Neha Nagar, financial advisor8
Why This Matters
Government schools remain the only truly affordable option, but they are chronically underfunded. Strengthening public education is essential to:
- Hold private schools accountable by fostering real competition.
- Ensure universal access to quality learning, regardless of financial background.
- End parental exploitation and the unchecked commercialization of education.
Final Thought
Public education should not be replaced by private education. Families will continue to be squeezed, children will be privileged to be separated, and educational disparities will further worsen in the absence of strong government intervention. Investing in government schools as the foundation of accessible education is the first step towards taking decisive action.
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