Class I fees as high as Rs 2L in most Bengaluru schools

Most private schools in Bengaluru seem to be competing with engineering colleges when it comes to charging fees.

Getting their wards admitted into private schools in the city is burning a hole in parents’ pockets with private schools charging close to Rs 2 lakh a year for admissions.

On average, private schools in the city have fixed fees at Rs 80,000 this academic year. Those offering CBSE and ICSE curriculum charge even more.

Presidency School is charging Rs 1.84 lakh for the next academic year. The staff at this school who revealed the fee was quick to add, “There’s nothing to worry. It can be paid in instalments.”

Meanwhile, National Public School said the fee was Rs 1.32 lakh which is a 10% increase over the previous year. It isn’t any cheap for pre-kg students too. At Sri Kumaran Children’s Home, the fee is Rs 94,000, according to a staff member.

They said only the principal had the authority to disclose the fee structure. A few other schools also refused to provide a break-up stating “it was complicated”.

“Private schools are looting parents to the lifetime. We parents (citizens of Karnataka) are struggling to pay education fee and other recurring charges. Please audit the schools’ financial practices and educational trustees transactions immediately,” a parent wrote on the social media.

“Private schools are hiking their fees every year by 10% to 40%. Every school is charging exorbitantly and manipulating books and stationery, uniforms and transportation to make extra money from helpless parents,” reads a petition by the Karnataka School Parents’ Association.

According to the state government orders, salary + 100% for BBMP cess + 10% of the term fee divided by the number of students is what the fee schools ought to charge. The annual fee hike cannot exceed 15%.