Ludhiana Parents Grapple with Soaring School Expenses as New Session Begins
For countless middle-class families in Ludhiana, the onset of a new academic year is a time of significant financial strain and anxiety. Budgets are stretched thin, and savings are depleted not only to cover school readmission fees but also to purchase prohibitively expensive book sets. This annual ritual has become a source of immense pressure for parents striving to manage household finances.
The Struggle to Save Amidst Rising Costs
Parents attempting to economize face an uphill battle. Each year brings new study materials, making it nearly impossible to reuse books from previous sessions. The limited availability of prescribed items forces families to rely on a handful of specific shops, where they must pay whatever price is demanded, often without viable alternatives.
Beyond NCERT: The Burden of Supplementary Materials
While most private schools in Ludhiana are affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and mandate NCERT textbooks, parents have raised serious concerns. They allege that schools additionally insist on purchasing a variety of supplementary books and materials. These extra items, which differ from school to school, include:
- General knowledge books
- Art express books
- Activity workbooks
- Geometry boxes and toolkits
- Other specialized materials
According to parents, these additions have become a primary driver of the escalating financial burden at the start of each academic session, significantly inflating overall expenses despite the common CBSE affiliation.
Limited Availability and Inflated Prices
A major grievance is the restricted access to these additional items. Many prescribed books and materials are reportedly available only at a select few bookshops in the city. Consequently, parents are compelled to visit multiple stores over several days to fulfill the school-issued lists. This not only causes considerable inconvenience but also fosters a market environment where prices remain high due to a lack of competition and options.
Criticism of Readmission Fees and Additional Charges
The practice of charging readmission fees by private schools has also drawn sharp criticism. Numerous parents reported being required to pay these fees even when their children are continuing in the same institution. These charges are added to existing tuition and other fees, further escalating costs for the new session.
Parental Testimonies Highlight Financial Strain
Amit Kumar, a Ludhiana resident, shared his experience: "The book cost for my nursery-going child was approximately Rs 2,100. For my other child entering Class I, I had to pay a total of Rs 13,100, which included charges for the sports fund, tuition fee, identity card, and readmission." He emphasized that different private schools follow disparate policies, which should be monitored by authorities as the high costs directly impact family finances.
Priyanka, another local parent, recounted her struggle: "My son, entering UKG, was asked to purchase a specific EVS book that is not easily available. We have been searching for it for the past 10 days." She noted that the prescribed book set alone cost around Rs 2,100, excluding other necessary expenses at the session's start.
Another parent expressed dismay over the Rs 6,600 book set for her daughter in Class IV, deeming it excessively expensive for the grade. She pointed out that additional items like activity books, GK books, and art express books were pricier than some main subject textbooks.
Wide Variations in Costs and Policies
However, costs are not uniform across all institutions. One parent reported paying only about Rs 600 for the book set for his child in Class VI, as the school prescribed only basic books, readily available on the school premises and at nearby shops. In stark contrast, he mentioned a family member paying substantially higher amounts for a child in another private school due to extensive additional requirements.
Discussions among parents from various parts of the city and associated with different private schools reveal significant disparities in pricing and policies. They highlighted that although CBSE affiliation is common, book prices, item lists, and fee-related policies differ markedly and are revised almost annually based on decisions by private school authorities.
Demands for Regulatory Intervention
Parents are urgently calling for clear inspection and intervention by the concerned authorities. Their key demands include:
- Uniform pricing of book sets across all CBSE-affiliated schools.
- Avoidance of prescribing additional items available only at limited outlets.
They argue that eliminating such practices would help prevent monopolies, ensure fairness, and substantially reduce the financial burden on families at the beginning of every academic year, making education more accessible and affordable for all.
