BANGALORE: Incremental increase in annual fees. Coercion to buy branded shoes. Welcome to the world of today's education...

So another academic year is over and done with and now parents have to grapple with the tensions of yet another academic year. Many schools have already announced the hike in re-admission fee and the monthly fee, the latter anywhere between Rs. 50 and Rs. 350 depending on the schools and classes.

"The management takes unilateral decision to hike the fee. Parents are only intimated about it at the end of the academic year," says S. Ramaswamy of R.T. Nagar, who will have to dig deeper into his pocket to pay his daughter's fees from next year. He will have to pay about 25 per cent more this year.

Another parent, whose son studies in an upmarket school, says the management invariably hikes fee by about 10 per cent annually.

Apart from such routine upward revision of fee, a few schools also force students to buy a particular brand of shoe costing not less than Rs. 700. Fumed a parent: "The shoe scheme introduced last year is being reviewed again. The management wants us to buy a fresh pair again this academic year. My daughter used the pair for physical training sessions held once a week. Though the shoes are in good condition, a circular has been sent to parents to buy a fresh pair."

R.S. Shivayogi, Secretary, NET Public School, Basavanagudi, defends such incremental increase of fees by managements thus: "Schools have to review salaries of teachers annually as the threat of attrition is high. Neighbourhood schools also poach our teachers if salaries are not reviewed. Besides, the boom in the BPO sector has actually caused shortage of teachers. Unless we pay them well, good talent cannot be attracted."

Moreover, schools tie up with many service providers for programmes such as Newspaper in Education and Global Awareness Programme and so the fees also go up proportionately.

Fee revision is normally based on the goodwill the school earns through examination results. Management calculates average expenditure incurred on each child and salary of teachers along with extra-curricular activities.

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