Schooling is one of the major costs of raising a child. Today, the best quality education is available to children at schools in Indian cities but this education comes at a cost. Till date the government has been unable to regulate school fees and hence, tuition fees can vary considerably.
Cost Of Education In – Determining Factors
Some of the factors that influence a school’s fee structure are the board of education, the language of engagement, infrastructure and facilities available. Most schools increase their fees by around 9-10% annually. Government schools are the exception where education is provided free of cost to all students.
When it comes to private schooling, the first cost to be incurred is an admission fee. In Bangalore, most schools charge an admission fee upwards of INR 50,000. Tuition fees itself can range from Rs 20,000 annually to a few lakhs.
A survey conducted in 2017 revealed that the average annual tuition fees for popular CBSE and ICSE privately run schools was between INR 1 lakh and 1.5 lakh. International schools can charge annual fees of up to Rs3-4 lakhs.
There are a number of other costs that must also be incurred. For example, the cost of uniforms, books, stationery, etc. if the child has to travel a certain distance to and from school, bus fees or transportation costs will also need to be added.
A survey conducted in May 2015 revealed that the total expense of educating a child in a private school had risen from INR 55,000 to 125,000 annually over the last decade. In the past 4 years, this cost will only have risen further. In some cases, school fees are even higher than college fees.
As of 2018, there were 260 million students enrolled in 1.5 million schools in India. As the demand for quality education at an affordable cost rises, serious thought is needed for the regulation of school fees and the cost of education.
| Cost of Education in Cities | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City | School Fees | Private Tuition Fees | Conveyance | Total |
| Delhi | 1599 | 1197 | 644 | 3440 |
| Kolkata | 1017 | 1141 | 345 | 2502 |
| Mumbai | 1688 | 1682 | 914 | 4284 |
| Chennai | 772 | 371 | 322 | 1465 |
| Lucknow | 1839 | 622 | 510 | 2972 |
| Patna | 1288 | 953 | 531 | 2772 |
| Ahmedabad | 1015 | 489 | 457 | 1961 |
| Hyderabad | 355 | 129 | 250 | 734 |
| Jaipur | 864 | 600 | 293 | 1758 |
| Bangalore | 819 | 585 | 357 | 1762 |
| Pune | 586 | 771 | 229 | 1585 |
| Kochi | 1068 | 402 | 356 | 1827 |
| (Rupees per month) |