Tot’s school? Shell out 3.5 lac

Starting your child's education might eat up your years' worth of savings. With the scramble for nursery admissions going on in full swing, here's what all harrowed parents are going through much before their tiny tot even steps into the classroom.

Costlier than DU, IIT, IIM
IT consultant Suyash Bajaj's phone beeps continuously. "I registered for SMS alerts for nursery admissions in Delhi-NCR. My wife and I have been on leave for one week as we had to rush for filling up forms in different schools. We ended up spending `17,000, and we could not cover all the schools," he rues.

According to a survey by ASSOCHAM (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry), parents these days maintain a budget of `15,000-`20,000 just to apply to leading schools in Delhi. And even after shelling out so much, there's no guarantee that the kid will get through that school. There are over 3,000 public schools in Delhi, which normally sell their prospectus containing admission details for `500-`1,000. In fact, the price of the prospectus for nursery and KG is even costlier than those of Delhi University, IIMs, IICA and IICS, points out the survey. The study highlights how generally, parents are bound to buy the prospectus as it contains important details about the admission process, along with the forms. "Soaring prices of admission forms in most private schools in the metros have disturbed the budget of even the well-to-do families," says DS Rawat, secretary general, ASSOCHAM.

The interview drill
It might sound amusing to some, but for homemaker Divya Chopra, it's no joke when she says, "We've been very scared about being interviewed for our child's admission. We can't afford any risks. I've appointed a personal trainer for lessons on 'how to talk during your child's interview'. A few sessions will cost me `7,000, but that's okay," she explains.

After admission
"It doesn't end once my child gets through. One has to invest a hell lot to get things started," says Rakesh Sarin, who's laid out a rough education budget for his child (see box). "In no way can it be less than `4 lakh. With all the reputed schools demanding a lot, it's really going to break the bank for me," he states.

Agrees Sumeshwar Nair, "Itna toh ho hi jayega. We can't compromise on anything. Apart from the fees, whatever he needs - uniform, the best school bag, shoes, etc - we'll get him, na. Also, commuting ka paisa bhi lagega. We do worry thinking itna sab padhai shuru hone se pehle hi lag gaya hai, aage kya hoga?"

Average budget before primary school begins:

School admission forms (with prospectus): `20,000
School fees: `65,000-3,00,000 per annum
Uniform: `2,000-5,000 (approx)
School bag: `1,000-3,000 (approx)
Commuting: `6,000 -8,000 (annual)
Total: `3,36,000

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