An Analysis of Private Kindergarten Education in India
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Social Development, Education, Human Resources; Social Sector Initiatives; Important Reports (National Sample Survey - NSS).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 1 (Society): Poverty and developmental issues; Social empowerment.
General Studies Paper 2 (Social Justice & Governance): Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education, Human Resources; Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population (Children); Government policies and interventions. The commercialization of education and its impact on equity is a core GS2 topic.
Key Highlights from the News
National Sample Survey (NSS)'s latest report indicates that private kindergarten education in India is unaffordably expensive for common people.
The cost gap in education between government and private schools is highest at the pre-primary level. In rural areas, private schools cost approximately 22 times more than government schools. In urban areas, this figure is 16 times.
In private schools, there isn't a significant fee increase from kindergarten to higher secondary. This suggests that schools are front-loading of costs, including future expenses in the fees charged at the time of admission.
Conversely, in government schools, the cost significantly increases as students move to higher classes.
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