“Education inflation is real”: Bengaluru man stunned by Rs 3.7 lakhs kindergarten fee
“Education inflation is real”: Bengaluru man stunned by Rs 3.7 lakhs kindergarten fee
The investor noted that the real inflation is evident in education rather than real estate, pointing to a steep rise in fees across India.
A Bengaluru-based investor sparked a debate on the rising cost of education after he flagged an astounding increase in fees of lower kindergarten fees in Hyderabad.
The investor noted that the real inflation is evident in education rather than real estate, pointing to a steep rise in fees across India.
Aviral Bhatnagar, the founder of A Junior VC, in a post on X said LKG fees in Hyderabad have surged from ₹2.3 lakh to ₹3.7 lakh per annum.
While the school wasn’t named, Bhatnagar said this increase is part of a broader trend. He argued that when adjusted for inflation, school fees have increased nine-fold in the last three decades, with college fees witnessing an even more dramatic twentyfold rise.
LKG fees have gone up from 2.3L to 3.7L in Hyderabad, mirroring nationally
— Aviral Bhatnagar (@aviralbhat) August 14, 2024
While we focus on house prices, the real inflation has happened in education
Inflation adjusted, school fees are up 9x and college fees are up 20x in the last 30 years
Education is no more affordable
“LKG fees have gone up from 2.3L to 3.7L in Hyderabad, mirroring nationally. While we focus on house prices, the real inflation has happened in education. Inflation-adjusted, school fees are up 9x and college fees are up 20x in the last 30 years. Education is no more affordable,” he wrote.
The issue has resonated with many on social media. Some users noted that the annual kindergarten fees now exceed the salary package of a fresher at companies like Cognizant, which recently faced criticism for offering what many consider an unlivable wage.
Another user commented on the broader implications, stating that education has turned into a business, with little focus on fostering critical thinking.
“Food, health and education – each of these expenses contribute more than 70% of any average middle class family. The inflation for all these three inflations are easily from 10-20% annually. But the government inflation will still tell you that CPI inflation is 3-4%. Be very conscious of what inflation you wish to consider for your financial freedom journey,” wrote one user.
Another netizen shared: “Board Councils are also charging fees for conducting exams. Recently I came to know that a prominent school in Mumbai is taking Rs 4500 from students for conducting 10th board exams and it was said that all of this is given to the ICSE Council.”
“So true. Just visited a school today and I was told that the average fee hike is 10-12% pa, which basically means every – 7 years the fees will double. The current fees with transport and food is around 3.5 lac pa for LKG,” commented a third user.
“Apart from the fees (20% increase compared to last year), schools are collecting hefty amounts for their inhouse school dresses (with little changes on dress codes) and books,” said a fourth user.
