A Noida-based physician, Dr. Shraddhey Katiyar (MBBS, MD – Internal Medicine), has sparked widespread online discussion by highlighting the rising cost of education in India and its impact on families’ finances.
In a post shared on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Dr. Katiyar described how regular increases in school fees are creating a persistent monthly burden for parents and drawing attention to broader concerns about affordability and educational access.
In his post, Dr. Katiyar wrote "Parents don’t hesitate to spend on their children. They hesitate because they have no choice. When schooling becomes a luxury, we’re not building a smarter society, we’re pricing out potential. And the heaviest lesson children learn is this: Their parents paid the price, silently."
He emphasized that many parents adjust their lives quietly around these expenses rather than publicly objecting, leading to sacrifices such as reduced leisure activities, deferred personal goals, and taking on additional work.
In the viral X post, Dr. Katiyar questioned the common justification that higher fees automatically result in better educational outcomes, noting large class sizes and concerns about teacher compensation even as fees rise.
The post attracted a range of responses from social media users, with some parents expressing frustration over perceived disproportionate fee increases relative to the quality of teaching and infrastructure.
One commented, that, "We are brainwashed to believe school is mandatory, no matter how expensive or useless. Not me. I’ll homeschool my kids via NIOS/open boards and through Real learning, AI, books, apprenticeships. Schools are dumb factories and money-laundering mafias."
Others questioned whether broader policy reforms or collective action could address fee regulation.
According to National Sample Survey (NSS) 80th Round, on ‘Comprehensive Modular Survey: Education’, there have been a large increase on private coaching fees in Indian households, especially in urban areas.
Parents have experienced fee increases of 50–80% over the past few years outside of broader inflation and wage growth.
While education is widely regarded free and a right by the constitution, the rising costs are creating a divide in accessing quality education according to the NSS survey. It is a key driver of economic mobility and social advancement; rising costs can influence family decision-making, with parents often altering other areas of spending to accommodate school fees.
Although private educational institutions generally set their own fee structures, periodic review by education authorities and parent advocacy groups could balance cost, quality, and access to education.
(Rh)
