The Hindu : New Delhi News : Public school prospectus prices show 300% increase

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Monday, Dec 08, 2008
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Public school prospectus prices show 300% increase

Staff Reporter

‘Schools put together may earn 5,000 crore by selling them’

NEW DELHI: An almost 300 per cent increase has been noticed in prices of prospectus sold by various public schools for admissions to nursery and kindergarten classes over the past eight years.

In 2000, leading public schools in the city sold prospectus containing details about admission processes in their respective schools for a sum of Rs.300. In 2008, a prospectus costs roughly Rs.1,000, according to ASSOCHAM Social Development Foundation (ASDF).

Parents on an average are shelling out a minimum of Rs.5,000 on their single child for buying prospectus. Obviously for two children the sum spent on buying prospectus doubles up, says ASSOCHAM Secretary General D.S. Rawat.

The cost of prospectus for nursery and KG is costlier than the prospectus sold by reputed management, engineering and chartered accountant institutions which really provide qualitative education.

According to estimates made by ASDF, in Delhi alone some public schools put together are likely to earn Rs.5,000 crore by selling prospectus. This is a conservative estimate based on finding of ASSOCHAM, added Mr. Rawat, pointing out that this is in spite of the Delhi Government directives to school management to have standardised prospectus at a uniform price.

The ASDF further points out that generally parents do not refuse to buy prospectus as these contain important details about the admission procedure along with the admission forms. Now with more schools starting the sale of forms, parents can’t help but shell out more. Many parents also believe it is wise to buy the forms of as many schools as possible to secure admission for their wards.

Uncertainty

Most parents feel that shelling out Rs.5,000 on buying prospectus pinches them the most as there is no certainty that their child will eventually get through that school. 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.

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