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A minimum of 300% rise is being noticed in Prospectus sold off by various public schools

for giving admissions in Nursery and KG classes between a period of 2000 to 2008 andon an average each parent is selling out a sum of Rs.5000 for buying such prospectus,

hoping admissions for their tiny tots.

In around 2000, leading public schools in Delhi would normally sell off prospectus,

containing details about admission processes in their respective schools for a sum ofRs.300. In 2008, one prospectus costs parents roughly Rs.1000, according to findings

of the ASSOCHAM Social Development Foundation (ASDF).

Parents on an average are selling out a minimum sum of Rs.5,000 on their single childfor buying prospectus. Obviously, for 2 children, the sum spent on buying prospectus

doubles up, says the Mr. D S Rawat, ASSOCHAM Secretary General. The cost of

prospectus for nursery and KGs is costlier than the prospectus sold off by reputed

management, engineering and chartered accountant institutions which really providequalitative education.

According to estimates made by ASDF, in Delhi alone good public schools are

likely to earn revenues by selling prospectus to an extent of Rs.5,000 crore. This

is absolutely a conservative estimates based on finding of ASSOCHAM, added Mr.Rawat pointing out that this is despite the Delhi government directives to school

management to have standardized prospectus at a uniform price. This directive is being

violated which is unfortunate, added the Secretary General ASSOCHAM.

The ASSOCHAM Social Development Foundation further points out that generally

parents do not refuse to buy prospectus as these contain important details

about admission procedure along with the admission forms. Now, with more

schools starting the sale of forms, parents can't help but shell out more. Manyparents also believe it wise to buy the forms of as many schools as possible to

secure admission for their wards.

Single parent keep aside around Rs 4,000/- to 5,000/- to apply in at least 10-12schools so that at the end of the day, their child is enrolled in one of the schoolsof their choices as majority of parents can't afford to miss out a chance.

Most of Parents feel that selling out Rs.5000 on buying prospectus pinches them the

most as there is no certainty that their child will eventually get through that school."It's like a wild shot. They have to unwillingly pay for the prospectus and a CD on the

school curriculum in two schools even when they are almost sure that their child would

not get admission there.

These days prospectus are made fancy with lot of unwanted reading materials as the

intention of the schools is to make prospectus voluminous to attract good pricing.

Increasingly rising school admission form in most of privately managed schools in large

cities including metros have deterred even well to do young parents.

The Chamber has not only opposed escalation in cost of prospectus but it is equally

against proposed fee hike move in public schools which is likely to be within the range

of 40%.

The ASSOCHAM feels that at times when economy is on doldrums, downsizing in

corporate world is on peak and people are loosing jobs and inflation continues to push

up prices of all essential commodities, it would be extremely unfair to raise the fee as itwould put most of the parents under severe pressures.

Mr. Rawat said that majority of school management boards have referred to the 6th

Pay Commission hike as one of the reasons for tuition fee hike which is totally

unjustified as majority of the workforce is engaged in unorganized sector and is not atall beneficiary to pay hike.

Parents, however, complain that education is now being run like a commercial business

enterprise. The high tuition fees no more justify the services offered at schools and theerratic fee hike effected each year by management of schools.

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An estimated over 30 million children are now educated in private schools, with fees

usually rising well above inflation. Parents have to spend sleepless nights worryingabout how they are going to pay for what their child needs simply to go to school. It is

hitting their budget very hard and potentially having a direct impact on childrens

schooling. Parents are especially concerned about schools that put pressure on parents

to make so-called voluntary contributions.

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