Families are grappling with financial pressures stemming from high tuition fees, lack of transparency, and inconsistent implementation of policies like the Right to Education Act.
Published Dec 11, 2024 | 6:15 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 18, 2024 | 11:51 AM
Rising primary education costs
The cost of education, especially in metropolises, has become a significant financial burden for parents. This is the second article in a 2-part series on exorbitant school fees in capital cities of Southern States. Read the first part here.
From soaring school fees for primary and above to uneven implementation of RTE provisions, parents across South India are calling for reforms to make education accessible and equitable.
Across states, families are grappling with financial pressures stemming from high tuition fees, lack of transparency, and inconsistent implementation of policies like the Right to Education (RTE) Act. Amid these challenges, a growing number of voices are now demanding stricter regulations and reforms to balance costs with quality.
South First breaks down the problem.
In Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram, educating a child has become a financial marathon. Parents report annual expenditures ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹1.2 lakh per child, with additional charges for transportation, uniforms, and extracurricular activities.
One parent, Reena, whose children study in a CBSE school highlighted hidden charges, said, “Even small activities often come with added costs, and there’s no way to predict them.”
Similarly, in Bengaluru, annual costs in private schools can range from ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh. Parents like Bhavani Prasad from Whitefield are forced to cut back on household expenses, said, “My son’s school charges ₹1.2 lakh annually, including tuition and extracurricular fees. I had to cut back on household expenses just to make ends meet.”
The issue of inflating school fees yearly is another major heartache for parents who have no option but to keep paying. Sirisha said that the Infinity World School that follows CBSE curriculum in Chinna Nagar, Telangana, charges ₹1.2 lakh which is a little bit on the higher side, especially for the 3rd Grade.
“However, there are no other real options. We want our child to go to a nearby school, a good school. While it seems to be a bit lower in comparison to all these schools charging upwards of ₹2 lakh, it’s still high but we’ve made our peace with it,” she said, adding that, “A major issue is that they keep thinking about the fee year after year. We had to pay an additional ₹25,000 this year and the management simply cited inflation, insensitive to our stagnating paychecks.”
A common complaint among parents is the lack of transparency in fee structures. Indu S. Kumar, a parent in Kerala, criticised schools for underhand practices. “Fees should be standardised to ensure that quality education is accessible to all. The system is overloaded with books and curriculum, which are more about appearances than value,” she opined.
In Chennai, hidden costs associated with RTE admissions are a recurring theme. Murugan S, a parent of a student at St. John’s Matriculation School, shares that, “RTE students are admitted, but parents mention additional costs for uniforms and transport. These hidden charges can discourage poor families.”
The RTE Act, which reserves 25% of seats in private unaided schools for economically weaker sections (EWS), has been inconsistently implemented across states. In Tamil Nadu, some prominent schools like PSBB and DAV comply with RTE guidelines, but newer institutions often fall short.
Anusha Kulothungan, COO of Thejomaya Educational Services, explained to South First. “Regular CBSE schools like DAV and Vidya Mandir usually follow RTE rules at the primary level, but preschools are excluded. Newer institutions often require stricter enforcement.”
Meanwhile, in Karnataka, D Shashi Kumar, General Secretary of the Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools (KAMS), addressed misconceptions around RTE, stating, “The belief that RTE is the reason for exorbitant fees in private schools is a myth. Karnataka is one of the few states where RTE reimbursements are done within a year.”
However, some parents argued that RTE added indirect costs. Rajeshwari H from Bengaluru said, “Private schools use RTE as an excuse to justify their exorbitant fees.”
One of the key decisions parents face when choosing a school is whether to opt for the CBSE or State Board curriculum.
The CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) offers a nationally standardised syllabus across India, with a strong emphasis on science, mathematics, and preparation for competitive exams.
It promotes activity-based learning, encouraging projects and skill-based education, and is particularly ideal for families likely to relocate due to transferable jobs.
In contrast, the State Board curriculum in Karnataka focuses on regional context, incorporating local history, culture, and language into the syllabus. It is generally considered less rigorous than CBSE, making it less stressful for students, and is also more affordable.
However, State Board syllabuses vary across states and often provide fewer resources for competitive exam preparation compared to CBSE.
“We want to send our children to schools with good infrastructure and qualified teachers, but the costs are overwhelming,” said Anjali Rao, a mother of two. “If the government strengthened public schools or standardised private school fees, it would relieve a huge burden.”
In Telangana, Yamini, whose daughter attends Shloka Waldorf, a CBSE school in Azeez Nagar, spoked to South First. “My daughter is in the 8th grade. and I have to pay about ₹2.5 lakh per annum for her schooling. We don’t mind the fee as the amenities and education model seem worth it. Additionally, it is much better compared to the exorbitant 7 or 8 lakh some other ‘international’ schools charge.”
Amid mounting frustrations, parents are calling for significant reforms to ease financial burdens and ensure equitable access to education.
1. Cap on fees:
Parents across states emphasised the need for government regulation to cap tuition and admission fees. “If the government strengthened public schools or standardised private school fees, it would relieve a huge burden,” said Anjali Rao, a Bengaluru parent.
2. Improved transparency:
Families urged schools to provide clear, detailed fee structures and avoid hidden charges.
3. Interactive learning and extracurricular activities:
Parents criticised the lack of modern teaching methods and inadequate extracurricular opportunities. A parent in Kerala noted, “Schools should prioritise interactive learning over rote memorisation.”
4. Inclusive parental involvement:
Parents want more opportunities to voice their concerns and be involved in school activities.
5. Stronger RTE enforcement:
Shalini, a former teacher in Chennai, highlighted the need for better outreach to genuinely underprivileged families. “I’ve noticed families under RTE admissions who seemed well-off. Genuine underprivileged students often miss out due to lack of awareness or procedural hurdles,” she says.
With education becoming increasingly expensive and complex, the pressure is mounting on governments and educational institutions to act. From capping fees to improving public schooling options, parents believe systemic changes are essential to make education accessible to all.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
