Parents feel the pinch as private schools in Tiruchi increase fees

As the new academic year 2025-26 kicks in, parents of children in private schools are digging deep into their pockets again expecting to pay fees that seem to keep rising exponentially

As the new academic year 2025-26 kicks in, parents of children in private schools are digging deep into their pockets again expecting to pay fees that seem to keep rising exponentially.

According to data on the website of Tamil Nadu Private Schools Fee Determination Committee, educational institutions in Tiruchi are charging anywhere between ₹2,500 and ₹10,000 and above for Lower Kindergarten in the new academic year.

Anecdotal accounts suggest that parents of children in senior school pay upwards of ₹1 lakh annually in fees. The high fees have hit families hard, especially for those with more than one child in school.

“Most school managements charge a ‘facility fee’ for the amenities that are added to the premises. Additional fees for Annual Day costumes or class excursions have to be paid separately on demand,” said a parent of two children in Tiruchi. The parent shells out ₹1,20,000 for her son’s Class IX fees and ₹50,000 for her daughter’s Class I.

There are approximately 481 private schools in the Tiruchi district in the following categories: playschools, nursery and primary, matriculation, self-finance, and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and other boards, including Indian Certificate of Secondary Education and International General Certificate of Secondary Education.

“Schools are required to present their expenditures to the Fee Fixation Committee every three years. The fee for each class is fixed by the committee, based on the institution’s expenses and is valid for three years. For every academic year, a 10% to 15% fee increase is allowed according the committee’s rules. Infrastructure, maintenance, staff salary, and transport are the main expense points for schools,” an official of the District School Education department told The Hindu.

To register complaints, parents can approach the authorities directly, file Collector’s Grievance Day petitions or email them to the official portal. The process to regularise all private schools under a common code of conduct is being conducted by the authorities. “We are collecting fee fixation orders from all schools and show cause notices are issued to those institutions that do not furnish these details,” said the official.