Mumbai: A nationwide survey has revealed that private schools across India have increased their fees by a staggering 50% to 80% over the past three years, placing a growing financial burden on parents. The study, conducted by Delhi-based organization LocalCircles, covered over 85,000 parents across more than 300 districts in the country.
According to the survey, most private schools raise their fees annually by 10–15%, but in the last three years, many have significantly exceeded that margin.
Shockingly, 42% of parents reported that the schools their children attend have raised fees by over 50%, while 26% said the fee hike had gone as high as 80%. Parents also noted that schools are now charging for new categories like infrastructure, technology, and maintenance—costs that were never previously included.
Failure in Enforcing Regulations
Although the government has introduced regulations to control school fees, enforcement remains weak. Many states have set up fee regulation committees, but their impact appears limited to paperwork with little actual implementation.
The survey also uncovered that, post-COVID, several schools began charging additional amounts under the pretext of private transportation, digital learning tools, and other newly introduced services—further increasing the financial strain on families.
As private education becomes increasingly expensive, the need for stricter monitoring and genuine enforcement of fee regulations is being strongly voiced by parents across the country.
