The stark reality of educational costs in India, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• The NSS 80th Round Survey (April-June 2025) reveals the financial burden of education in India despite the constitutional guarantee of free education for children aged 6-14 years under Article 21A.
• 55.9% of students attend government schools, while 31.9% attend private unaided schools nationally; urban areas have higher private school enrolment (51.4%) compared to rural areas (24.3%).
• Fees in private schools range from ₹17,988 to ₹33,567 per academic year in rural areas and ₹26,188 to ₹49,075 in urban areas.
• 25.5% of rural and 30.7% of urban students take private coaching, with average expenditures of ₹7,066 and ₹13,026 respectively.

Detailed Insights:

• The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to extend universal education from pre-primary to higher secondary level by 2030, but many students still rely on private schools and coaching.
• Private school enrolment increased between the 75th (2017-18) and 80th NSS rounds (2025), indicating a shift towards private education and increased costs for families.
• A significant percentage of students in both government (25.3% rural, 34.7% urban) and private schools (98.2% rural, 98% urban) pay course fees, contradicting the notion of free education.
• The cost of private schooling can equal the monthly income of the poorest households, highlighting the financial strain on families, especially at pre-primary and higher secondary levels.
• Private tuition is more prevalent among students from higher-income families with better-educated parents, exacerbating inequalities in learning outcomes.
• Strengthening publicly funded schools is crucial to ensure equitable access to quality education and reduce reliance on private tuition, as indicated by a 2024 study.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Article 21A: Guarantees free and compulsory education for children aged 6-14 years in India.
• National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: Aims to universalize education from pre-primary to higher secondary level by 2030.
• Monthly Per Capita Expenditure (MPCE): A measure of household consumption expenditure used to assess the financial burden of education.