Delhi schools to mint over 1200 crore via forms?

New Delhi, Jan 4 (IBNS) Leading public schools in Delhi are likely to earn a revenue of over Rs. 1200 crore only through sale of nursery admission forms this year as against nearly 1000 crore in previous year, according to a recent analysis by apex industry body ASSOCHAM.

Besides, parents will have to embark to nearly 30 schools and might end up spending over Rs.20,000/- for nursery admission of their kids this year, according to a report titled ‘Nursery Admission: Nightmare for parents?’, released by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).

In order to curb an increasing menace in private schools especially in metros like Delhi-NCR, ASSOCHAM has mooted a proposal for a centralized nursery admission form for all sections to Department of Education (DTE).

D S Rawat, Secretary General, ASSOCHAM said, “Nursery admission has become an anxiety-ridden mission for parents seeking to secure a seat for their tiny tots in reputed pubic schools due to limited number of days for sale of admission forms”.

The paper revealed that parents these days maintain a budget of about Rs 15,000/- to 20,000/- only for applying in leading schools.

For parents it is sort of a wild shot as even after shelling out so much of money there is no certainty that their child will eventually get through that school.

There are over 3,000 public schools in Delhi which normally sell prospectus’, containing details about admission processes in their respective schools for a sum of Rs.800-1,000/-.

“Due to a recent Delhi government notification vis-a-vis 25% reservation for children belonging to economically weaker sections, seats for general candidates have shrunk drastically, thereby, making it tough for parents who will have to throng about 25 to 30 schools for their kids’ admission,” said Rawat.

The cost of prospectus for nursery admission in metro centres has spiked by nearly ten times during the course of past decade, according to ASSOCHAM.

The price of prospectus for nursery and KGs is costlier than that of Delhi University, IIMs, IICA and IICS which really provide qualitative education, points out the study.

The study further highlights that generally parents are bound to buy prospectus as these contain important details about admission procedure along with the admission forms.

“Soaring price of admission forms in most of private schools in metros have disturbed the budget of even well to do families. Education is now being run like a commercial business enterprise these days”, added Rawat.

As per the chamber estimates:

A single school print (number of forms) Prospectus (Rs) Earned (Rs.)

5,000 forms 800 Rs. 40,00,000 (5000*800) x 3000 schools’ forms

10,000 forms 800 Rs. 80,00,000 (10,000*800) x 3000 schools’ forms