Summary
Aviral Bhatnagar, a Bengaluru-based investor, has highlighted the sharp increase in lower kindergarten (LKG) fees in Hyderabad, which have surged from Rs 2.3 lakh to Rs 3.7 lakh annually. He argues that this trend signifies a broader issue of education inflation that far outpaces real estate inflation. Bhatnagar’s social media post, which has garnered significant attention, reflects a national pattern where education costs have risen dramatically over the past three decades. The discourse sparked by his post underscores the growing financial burden of education amidst high living costs and inflation, revealing a disconnect between actual inflation rates experienced by families and the government’s reported Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures.
Key Points
– Bengaluru investor Aviral Bhatnagar reported a rise in LKG fees in Hyderabad from Rs 2.3 lakh to Rs 3.7 lakh per year.
– Bhatnagar’s post suggests that the real inflation is occurring in education rather than real estate.
– Over the past 30 years, inflation-adjusted school fees have increased ninefold, and college fees twentyfold.
– The social media discussion highlights the discrepancy between reported CPI inflation (3-4%) and the 10-20% annual inflation experienced in essential expenses like education, food, and health.
– Additional comments from users included examples of extra fees for board exams and school-related costs, such as uniforms and books.
– Some users reported that school fees are increasing annually by 10-12%, with the total cost for LKG reaching around Rs 3.5 lakh, including transport and food.
