What was once seen as an affordable first step into learning is now a major financial commitment. Parents across India’s metro cities are reporting nursery school fees crossing Rs2 lakh a year, igniting heated debates on social media and in households about the value and ethics of early childhood education.
Parents Feeling the Pinch
In Bengaluru, one parent’s post about a Rs 2 lakh annual nursery fee went viral, while in Hyderabad another revealed a fee structure of Rs 2.51 lakh per year for pre-nursery. In Delhi, some playschools are quoting Rs 4.3 lakh annually, including “development” and “miscellaneous” charges. These revelations have triggered national conversations about the affordability of preschooling in India.
Why Are Fees So High?
Education experts cite a mix of premium branding, expensive urban real estate, and added services as the main drivers. Boutique preschools now offer imported play equipment, “global” curricula, and branded enrichment programmes, making early schooling as much a lifestyle statement as a learning environment.
Parents, meanwhile, are turning to loans and EMIs for nursery admissions, normalising household debt for preschool education.
The Regulatory Grey Zone
Unlike K-12 schools, most preschools fall outside the Right to Education Act and state fee-regulation frameworks. This lack of oversight has created a “wild west” where headline fees and hidden charges can proliferate unchecked. Experts are calling for mandatory disclosures and transparent fee breakups to protect parents.
The Bigger Questions
Critics warn that skyrocketing preschool fees risk deepening educational inequality, turning early years into a status marker. Even as parents pay premium fees, many early-years teachers remain underpaid — highlighting a stark mismatch between tuition charged and staff remuneration.
A Call for Action
Experts and parent groups are urging:
●Mandatory fee transparency
●Grievance redressal mechanisms
●Awareness campaigns to help parents judge quality beyond branding.
Until then, India’s preschool market will remain a high-stakes gamble — one that’s transforming the ABCs into a luxury many families can barely afford.
