Nursery admission to cost parents Rs 2-4 lakh: Assocham

Affording quality education for children has always burnt a hole in the pocket of parents, mainly those residing in metro cities, and educating a child is going to get costlier this year, an Assocham survey said.

The survey conducted in cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad, claimed that parents will budget Rs 2-4 lakh on average for their children's primary school education this year, as private institutes charge hefty fees.

It said parents find difficulty in meeting their ward's education costs mainly on account of hefty fees, expensive books, uniforms, transportation, building funds and educational trips. The education cost is increasing every year, in line with inflation.

"...Tuition fees have doubled during 2010 to 2012 on a single child. The average fees of private day schools are Rs 50,000 to 3 lakh per annum, which is much higher in metropolitan cities," it said.

As per the survey, 85 per cent of parents spend more than half of their pay on their children's education, placing a significant burden on their family budget.

"Education in private schools has drastically become expensive due to which middle class families are finding it difficult to bear the extra burden," Assocham Secretary General D S Rawat said.