Not just rising grocery bills, parents also have to deal with the skyrocketing cost of their children's education
Not just rising grocery bills, parents also have to deal with the skyrocketing cost of their children's education
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In an effort to gauge the economic tolerance of the common man the skyrocketing vegetable and fuel prices in the background MiD DAY spoke to some parents enquiring how they were coping with the yearly increase in school fees.
Till last year, most schools had hiked fees by 40 per cent, and now have decided a further hike of 10 per cent. One reason behind these random hikes, it is claimed, is so that teachers can be paid according to sixth pay commission.
Despite protesting the constant fee hikes, the parents are left with no choice but to continue to pay what the schools demand
The fees for a student at Vibgyor in 2008 were Rs 45,000, and without warning the fees were hiked to
Rs 83,000 in 2009, compelling parents to approach the courts in protest. Parents claim that they have heard from sources that the school proposes to hike the fee further by 10 per cent this year.
On the other hand, unaided forums claim that these fee hikes are a result of inflation and not because of sixth pay commission.
While some parents have transferred children from expensive schools due to fee hikes, others said that they were willing to do part time jobs to be able to afford the expenses of their children's education.
Many said that they were helpless even after protesting the constant fee hikes and are left with no choice but to continue to pay what the schools demand.
Parents who are runing their own business found things manageable, but shuddered to think of working class parents being able to manage on low salaries.
They said that an income of Rs 50,000 and above is essential to ensure that children can be educated in good schools.
Victims of a cause
Prashant Basrur, parent of a child enrolled at Rajhans Vidyalaya, said, "I have one daughter and she had been studying in Vibgyor High School from sd I to V.
The school was charging me a yearly fee of Rs 83,500 for limited facilities. After I removed my daughter from Vibgyor, I along with other parents filed a petition against the school fee hike. I am still a petitioner and will continue to fight the case."
Dinesh Tarfe, a parent from Jogeshwari, said, "I work with a corporate company and have three children. Even then it is difficult to afford an education for just one child during these tough times."
Annual tuition rates
> The American School of Bombay: Annual tuition rates range from $15,250 to $32,400 for ECEC-grade 12 ie, from Rs 6 lakh to u00a0Rs 14 lakh (year 2010-2011)
> Ecole Mondiale World School: u00a0Rs 7 lakh (year 2010-2011), u00a0> Dhirubai Ambani School: u00a0Rs 55,500 (year 2009-2010) (excluding u00a0tuition fees)
> Vibgyor School: Rs 83,500 u00a0(year 2009-2010), Rs 45,000 (year 2008-2009)
> Podar nursery schools: u00a0Rs 1,03,000 (year 2011) u00a0Rs 45,000 (year 2010)
Parents Speak
While other parents are in continuous protest against the fee hike, we spoke to a parent with a child enrolled at an elite school in the city enquiring what drives them to send their kids to big schools.
Chandani Trivedi, resident of Worli, and parent of a std II student of DY Patil International School, Worli, said, "The school is high-tech and they instruct students using the latest technology. I paid Rs 3.5 lakh for his admission as a security deposit and I truly feel that it is worth it. I also plan to send my younger daughter to the same school."
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