As school bells ring in the new academic year across India, they signal not hope or fresh opportunity for many families, but anxiety and financial strain. A recent nationwide survey has revealed a sharp and widespread rise in private school fees, leaving parents—particularly those from the middle class—struggling to keep pace. According to data from LocalCircles, a staggering 81% of parents with children enrolled in private institutions have reported fee hikes exceeding 10% this year alone. For many, this marks yet another chapter in an ongoing crisis.
In cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, these increases have not only strained household budgets but also ignited protests and public outrage. At one prestigious school in Delhi, parents have been staging demonstrations outside the gates, holding placards and voicing their frustration over annual fees that now exceed ₹1.4 lakh (approximately $1,680). They say tuition has gone up steadily since 2020—by anywhere from 8% to 20% each year—leaving many families unsure whether they can continue affording their child’s education.
This isn’t an isolated grievance. Across the Delhi National Capital Region and in other urban centers, similar scenes are playing out. Parents are contending with sudden, opaque hikes categorized under various fee heads—development fees, technology charges, and infrastructure levies—often without clear explanations or accountability. Though the Directorate of Education (DoE) has attempted to intervene, its powers were effectively curtailed by a 2023 Delhi High Court ruling, which permitted schools to revise fees upon submitting statements under the Delhi School Education Act. The court’s interim decision limited government oversight to preventing profiteering or capitation fees, not broader affordability.
In Karnataka, the outcry has prompted some regulatory response. The Department of School Education has issued new directives requiring schools to publicly disclose detailed admission notices, reservation quotas, and complete fee structures. Field officers have been asked to actively monitor compliance and address grievances. But for many, these steps feel insufficient—a bureaucratic balm on a growing wound.
The financial toll of this crisis is being measured not just in rupees, but in sacrifices. Some families are taking out loans. Others are cutting back on essentials. A few have had to pull children from private institutions altogether. The LocalCircles survey, conducted across 301 districts with over 18,000 responses, found that 44% of parents have seen school fees jump by 50–80% or more over the last three years. Families with older children—who also often need private coaching—are under even greater financial pressure.
For Indian households, education has long symbolized upward mobility, an investment in a better future. But with every unchecked hike, that dream is slipping further out of reach. What was once a gateway to opportunity now feels like a fortress of privilege.
Many parents are now calling for urgent structural reforms. They are urging the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and state education departments to cap annual fee increases and enforce greater financial transparency. Advocacy groups are also demanding third-party audits and localized surveys to ensure schools remain accountable to the communities they serve.
In a country where access to quality education is seen as a right, not a luxury, the escalating cost of private schooling is not just an economic issue—it is a social and moral one. And until a lasting solution is found, the question will remain: how can a nation promise inclusive progress when even a child’s classroom becomes unaffordable?
This article is auto-generated from verified news sources and does not reflect editorial opinion.
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