December and January are the most dreaded months for any parent in Chandigarh whose little one is all set to step into formal education. The mind-boggling hunt for admission forms, the confounding admission rules, the tremendous pressure to impress the schools, the sleepless nights waiting for admission lists – all the magical experience of being a parent turns into a nightmare!
If any stressor was amiss, the gigantic bills fill in all.
According to statistics, admission to one of the top private schools in the city costs whopping Rs 2,00,000 to Rs 4,00,000 per annum on an average, while getting an MBA degree from Panjab University costs less than Rs 25,000 per annum.
Not just admission fee, tuition fee and transportation expenses, several schools have put expenses under different heads, including registration charges, development fund, caution money and miscellaneous expenses.
Fees of the Prominent Schools in Chandigarh
| Name of the School | Fees |
| Strawberry Fields High School, Sec 26 | Rs 1,23,000 |
| Gurukul Global School, IT Park | Rs 83,630 |
| Ryan International School, Sec 49 | Rs 79,900 |
| Delhi Public School, Sec 40 | Rs 64,450 |
| Vivek High School, Sec 38 | Rs 51,500 |
| St Kabir Public School, Sec 26 | Rs 46,250 |
Then, there are fun trips, annual and sports day celebrations, festival celebrations, along with sundry other days that are celebrated with aplomb in most schools – all, at the cost of parents’ hard-earned money.
Other expenses:
| Admission fee | Rs 25,000-Rs 80,000 |
| Tuition fee | Rs 3,000-Rs 6,000 per month |
| Transport | Rs 1,000-Rs 1,200 per month |
| Uniforms | Rs 1,200-Rs 2,500 per set |
| Shoes | Rs 400-Rs 2,000 |
| School bags | Rs 800-Rs 2,000 |
| Water bottle | Rs 400-Rs 1,200 |
| Events/fun trips | Rs 5,000-Rs 8,000 per annum |
| Stationery | Rs 800-Rs 2,000 |
| Books | Rs 3,000-Rs 4,500 |
Thankfully enough, UT Education Department has decided to rein in the private schools over fee and other charges. It is in the process of scrutinising the Punjab Regulation of Fee of Unaided Educational Institution Bill, passed in December 2016. The Director of School Education has been entrusted with the task of studying its features and recommending it to suit the requirements of the department with the Governor’s approval, after which it will be sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs for final approval to make it applicable to Chandigarh.
Source: The Tribune
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