LKG Fees Up To Rs 3.7 Lakh: Bengaluru Investor Highlights ‘Real Inflation’

Rising cost of essential items and services has become a concern for people from all classes. In metro cities and urban areas, where the residents are facing extra financial burden due to increasing property costs and lifestyle expenses, affordability of basic services have also become out of reach for many.

An investor from Bengaluru in a recent social media post expressed concern over the sharp rise in lower kindergarten (LKG) school fees, claiming that ‘real inflation’ has occurred in education rather than real estate. A user named Aviral Bhatnagar posted on X (previously Twitter) that LKG fees in Hyderabad have increased from Rs 2.3 lakh to Rs 3.7 lakh per annum. He stated that the rise is indicative of a broader national trend, avoiding specifically naming the school in question.

He wrote, “LKG fees have gone up from Rs 2.3L to Rs 3.7L in Hyderabad, mirroring nationally. While we focus on house prices, the real inflation has happened in education. Inflation adjusted, school fees are up 9x and college fees are up 20x in the last 30 years. Education is no more affordable.”

The Bengaluru-based investor’s post has stirred an animated conversation over fee structures, inflation and living expenses amid rising inflation.

Author Manoj Arora said, “Food, health and education – each of these expenses contributes more than 70% of any average middle-class family. The inflation for all these three inflations is easily from 10-20% annually. But the government inflation will still tell you that CPI inflation is 3-4%. Be very conscious of what inflation you wish to consider for your financial freedom journey.”

Another user added, “School education is no longer useful if your parents are well educated and doing well, better save money than waste in school, and invest that much in higher education or seed fund for starting a business for your children when he/she reaches 18.”

A few also used the post to take a dig at the IT company Cognizant for their CTC offer to new joinees, “That’s lesser than what cognizant pays.” The IT behemoth recently came under fire for offering Rs 2.5 lakh to fresh graduates, a salary that many argue is “unlivable” in today’s market.

Another wrote, “The worst thing is as a parent you can’t do anything!”

A user suggested, “Homeschooling is the new normal.”

While homeschooling is becoming more and more popular in the United States, it is still a very uncommon concept in India, where it is not officially recognised. Homeschooling is a teaching method in which kids receive their education at home instead of going to a regular public or private school. Typically, parents or tutors assume the role of educators, creating and implementing the curriculum.