Rs 2.51 lakh nursery class fee: Justified or not? For some it's the price of an 'elite bubble'

Economic Times

30-07-2025

A Hyderabad school's reported nursery fee of Rs 2.51 lakh per year has sparked widespread debate online, raising questions about the rising cost of early education in India. While some view it as an investment in premium schooling and social capital, others criticize it as a status-driven expense that reflects deeper inequalities.
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Prestige, Not Pedagogy?
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Social Pressure and Status Symbol
As the cost of private education continues to rise in India, a growing number of parents and observers are questioning what exactly they're paying for. In major cities, fees for preschool and nursery classes are reaching levels once associated only with higher education. This has reignited debate around affordability, access, and whether elite private schools are offering genuine value — or simply selling social prestige at a premium.The latest round of public scrutiny was sparked by a post on X (formerly Twitter), where a user highlighted that a well-known school in Hyderabad charges Rs 2.51 lakh per year for nursery admission, which works out to around Rs 21,000 a month. The user questioned what kind of education at the nursery level could possibly justify such a high fee, pointing out that this amount was being spent just for children to start learning the alphabet.The post drew a flurry of responses. Several users argued that such schools are not merely about education, but about positioning children within a specific social class. One pointed to an elite Indian school, where they said the fees for early education crosses Rs 14 lakh annually. The argument is that parents are paying for exclusivity, not just academics — mirroring trends seen in elite private schools globally. The high cost, some said, is a gateway to an 'elite bubble' where children grow up isolated from the rest of Indian society.Many social media users defended the fee structure as a simple matter of supply and demand. They argued that just as consumers choose to pay premium prices for luxury goods or services, schools with strong brands and perceived advantages are free to set their rates. From their perspective, education is a service like any other, and parents voluntarily opting in means the market is functioning as intended. One user likened it to MBA programs, where students pay for access to networks as much as for the curriculum itself.On the other side of the conversation, critics were quick to point out how social validation plays a large role in these choices. Several users mentioned that many parents proudly broadcast the high fees they pay — not as a complaint, but as a badge of honour. The school a child attends is often seen as an extension of the family's status, and some believe that the rising demand for such institutions is driven more by image than educational merit.Beyond the optics, there were serious concerns raised about the regulatory environment. Legally, schools in India are required to operate as not-for-profit entities, but some users noted that many manage to generate significant profit through indirect channels. Others criticised the government's role in this trend, arguing that weakening support for public education has pushed more families into the private sector, where fees are unchecked and rising rapidly.Some commenters suggested that parents should consider more affordable but academically strong schools, rather than getting caught up in the status race. A few proposed community-based models, such as cooperative home-schooling by parents, to ensure quality education without exorbitant fees. The broader point echoed by many was that India needs to rethink its educational priorities — moving from image-based schooling to models that focus on meaningful learning and skill development.