Why fees hike is so essential in public/private schools

Abstract

India is a developing country, Now days parents put more emphasis on educating their bundle of joy in India .They want to enroll their child in renowned school for this they don't mind whether school is private or unaided .After going through all tedious and unwanted process of admission they feel relaxed when their child admitted in these schools. After some time they realize this is their nightmare because of school fee hike and other school expenses .To fulfill the requirement of these schools, mothers also start working, but all these effort are not just enough to fulfill their dreams. The mounting cost of education in recent years has eaten into a major part of the household budget. An Assocham survey showed that 65% of parents spend more than half their take-home pay on their children's education, extra co-curricular activities placing significant burden on their family budget. According to the survey, parents spending on a single child's education has gone up from Rs 35,000 in 2005 to over Rs 94,000 in 2011 on such items and activities as integral to the school curriculum like fees, transport books, uniform, stationery, building fund, educational trips, extra tuitions and extra-curricular activities. The survey highlights that the rising cost of education, has become a major cause of worry for parents. Majority of parents spend on average more than Rs 18 lakh-20lakh in raising a child by the time their teen graduates from high school. According to government data, average private expenditure on secondary education in private schools is as high as Rs 893 per month as compared to only Rs 275 per month in government schools primarily due to difference in high tuition fees in private institutions. Aggregate public spending on education during the 11th Plan period is estimated at Rs1244,797 crore for both the Centre and states taken together. About 43% of the public expenditure on education was incurred for elementary education, 25% for secondary education and the balance 32% for higher education. About half of the Central government's expenditure was incurred for higher education and the remaining for elementary (39%) and secondary (12%) education. In the state sector, about 75% of education expenditure is for school education, of which 44% is on elementary education and 30% on secondary education. Public expenditure on secondary education has increased from 0.78 % in 2007-2008 to 1.05% in 2011-20 An Assocham survey showed that the percentage of enrolment increases in private schools. An large proportion of children in urban low income areas in private unaided schools .On the basis of a survey where figures taken from three low income zones of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh shows that 65% of children are attending private unaided school. Similar research from North Sahadara, East Delhi shows that out of the 265 schools, private unaided schools made up 66% of the total schools. A similar survey of schools carried out in Haryana found that private unrecognized schools are operating practically in every locality of the urban centers as well as in rural areas. Indeed it was found that the choice for parents was no longer whether to send their children to school but to 'which type of school' they should be sent. It was estimated that almost 50% of children attended primary schools were enrolled in the private sector. 0 10 20 30 Std IV Std VI VIII % of children 2009