Sending a child to school has turned into an education in itself with private schools in the city charging exorbitant amounts as fee. While the Education department chooses not to interfere in matters pertaining to school fee,the school authorities justify the expenses saying they provide the best facilities. Admission to a prominent private school will leave the parents pockets lighter by a minimum of Rs 20,000. And this does not include the money charged under various headers. The minimum admission fee starts from Rs 7,000,and goes up to as high as Rs 28,000. The last straw the admission fee is non-refundable. We have set up theme-based classrooms equipped with the most modern of technologies. The school building also has a temperature-control mechanism. We focus on the holistic development of the child by providing him/her the finest sports facilities, says Aruna Bhardwaj,principal,Gurukul Global School,IT Park. She added that instead of overcharging,the focus is on giving value for money to the students and parents. Naresh Handa,school representative of St Xaviers School,says that the school does not believe in burdening parents with high fees but only charges for the services provided. Parents are reeling under the pressure. Getting my son admitted in a school touted as one of the best in the city has burnt a big hole in my pocket. It cost me more than Rs 35,000 at one go. What pinches more is that schools increase the fee by 15 to 20 per cent every year, said Jasmine Gill. Talking to Newsline,Director Public Instructions (Schools) Samwartak Singh said that the Education department has asked all schools to justify the huge fees and also submit a detailed list of the facilities being provided by them. Psychologists,meanwhile,feel parents are not the only ones bearing the brunt. Children who study in these schools become status conscious which reflects in their behaviour towards students from the so-called lower-rung schools. This breeds elitist mindsets, said Nisha Minocha,a child counsellor.
