2.1 L fee for Class 3: Parents protest rising private school fees

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Parents in Bengaluru are protesting the steep rise in private school fees after a social media post revealed a fee structure of Rs 2.1 lakh for a third-grade student. The Voice of Parents Association shared the fee breakdown, which included Rs 1.9 lakh for tuition, Rs 9,000 for annual fees, and Rs 11,449 labelled "imprest." The post’s caption read, "Rs 2.1 lakh fees for 3rd standard in Bengaluru. No amount of inflation can justify this. The government regulates engineering college fees but avoids the topic of school fees. There's no business like school business." The Voice of Parents Association strongly opposed what it described as the "profiteering and commercialisation of education" by private schools.

While acknowledging schools' constitutional rights under Articles 29, 30, and 19(1)(g) to establish and manage institutions, the group argued that these rights do not justify mismanagement or excessive profiteering. The association urged the government to implement stringent re gulat i o n s and establish fee determination committees to ensure fairness. It also called for transparent oversight, highlighting how schools resist regulation and exploit weak enforcement through corruption as per reports. The viral post has sparked widespread debate on the commercialisation of education, with many sharing their thoughts on X (formerly Twitter). One user commented, "Running a school with good infrastructure is expensive. Capping fees could have adverse outcomes.

The best solution is opening quality government schools." Another user emphasised the need for systemic change, stating, "When the privileged choose government schools, their infrastructure will automatically improve. It's the government's job to ensure f ree and quality education for all." Some users attributed the high fees to premium international curricula, with one commenter noting, "Many schools in Whitefield and Sarjapur charge similar fees, citing Cambridge/IB curriculums and smaller class sizes." Others pointed to market dynamics as a contributing factor, saying, "Parents willing to pay such fees create this market, enabling schools to charge exorbitantly."

LEAVE A COMMENT


TOP