Hyderabad: Parents in Hyderabad are feeling the pinch as nursery admissions begin for the next academic year. Schools, especially private and international ones, are demanding fees that many families consider unrealistic to enroll a three-year-old child. Despite repeated promises by the Telangana government to regulate the school fee structure, no government order has been issued so far.
At Jubilee Hills High School, nursery tuition alone costs Rs 1.68 lakh for the year, paid in three terms. Delhi Public School charges Rs 1.63 lakh excluding books, uniform, transport and other extras. This fee structure is common for many famous private schools like HPS, Meridian and others. Even among the more affordable ranges, parents seem to pay Rs.8,250 per month for nursery, LKG and UKG, which translates to around Rs. 1 lakh works. In some international schools, the total has exceeded Rs.2.5 lakh. “We’re talking about three-year-olds. It’s absurd,” said one parent. “If we’re paying what we’re paying now, what’s next?”
In May 2024, Burra Venkatesham, former principal secretary of the education department, announced plans to regulate school fees following growing complaints from parents. The proposal promised a comprehensive cap on tariff hikes, laws already in force in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Parents hoped for immediate implementation, but the government has made it clear that any changes will only come into effect from the 2025-26 academic year.
By September 2024, the Directorate of School Education, following orders from the Cabinet Sub-Committee, began considering the recommendations from the 2017 Tirupathi Rao Committee Report. The committee has proposed that private schools can increase their fees by more than 10 percent annually, keeping records of expenses exceeding this limit mandatory. The government has also indicated that it will introduce a special law to regulate and punish schools that increase the cost of unnecessary projects called ‘development fees’.
However, even after months passed, the government order remained in abeyance. In December, when the new chief secretary took over, schools had opened admissions, some even closed. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB), for instance, finished its registration process this month with the lottery draw scheduled for December 31.
Admissions for BVB closed earlier this month, with parents paying Rs. 1,000 and participate in the lottery draw scheduled on December 31. Although this model is transparent, it is an exception. Most private schools continue to operate without disclosing clear fees, often demanding deposits or other obscure fees.
A member of the Hyderabad School Parents Association (HSPA) said, “We have been fighting this issue for years. The government makes promises but does not follow through. Even if they do, schools don’t care. Today, more than 11,000 private schools in Telangana cater to around 35 lakh students and many of them raise fees every year without much notice or explanation. Some schools claim development expenses for things like smart boards or classroom upgrades, but parents question whether these improvements justify annual increases of 20-25 percent.
The government plans to fine schools that violate the rules from Rs 5 to 10 lakh. They have also come up with ideas such as increasing the capping fee to 10 percent and requiring schools to bear the cost if they want to go higher. On paper, it looks promising. In fact, families are still waiting for relief as the next academic year begins.