Rs 4,000 for Class 1 books! Ahmedabad parent’s viral post triggers backlash over rising education costs

Rising school fees and mandatory book purchases are no longer just an inconvenience, they've become a point of frustration for parents across India. A post from an Ahmedabad parent has opened a wider discussion about the financial pressures placed on families, sparking calls for change.

The parents vent their frustration by sharing the exorbitant cost of books and notebooks for their Class 1 child. The parent revealed that the total cost of study materials purchased directly from the school amounted to nearly Rs 4,000. According to them, the same materials could have been bought at a much lower price from the open market. The post has gone viral, sparking conversations about the increasing burden of school fees and mandatory purchases set by schools across the country.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the concerned parent highlighted two major issues: a sharp increase in school fees and the compulsory purchase of books and notebooks directly from the school. "Just paid school fees and bought books and notebooks from the school for my daughter, who is now in 1st grade. School fees increased by almost 35% compared to her senior KG fees! And we had to buy even notebooks from school, which we could easily buy from the market at discounts!" the parent wrote.

Reactions From Across the Country

The post resonated with many parents nationwide, who shared their frustrations over the rising cost of education. One user expressed, “Every school has started this loot. It began a few years back, and it’s out of control now. No government oversight over these things.” Another user pointed out the issue of inflated prices for books, saying, “Private schools profit from overpriced books sold by publishers. The book is worth Rs 80 but sold for Rs 500.”

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A Call for Change

The debate has sparked calls for reform in the education sector, with some suggesting that community microschools could be the future of education, offering more affordable and accessible options. While there is no immediate solution, the growing frustration among parents points to a need for greater oversight in the educational system.