The cost of private schooling at the pre-primary level is roughly equivalent to the monthly income of the poorest 5% of households, while the cost at the higher secondary level aligns with the MPCE of households in the third income decile. This stark contrast underscores the financial strain that many families face in accessing quality education.
We have the constitutional guarantee of free education. But, how much do parents actually spend to send their children to school? The 80th Round of National Sample Survey (NSS April-June 2025) on “Comprehensive Modular Survey: Education”, offers the latest data to explore these questions.
At the national level, 55.9% of students are enrolled in government schools, 11.3% in private aided schools, and 31.9% in private unaided schools. Enrolment in private schools is much higher in the urban sector than in the rural sector. Among the total schoolchildren in urban areas, 51.4% are enrolled in private school, while this share is 24.3% in rural areas.
In the rural sector, children are enrolled more in government schools than in private schools. In the urban sector, the share of children enrolled in private schools is much higher — 62.9% in pre-primary, 55.3% in primary, 49.8% in middle, 44% in secondary, and 42.3% in higher secondary. As education levels increase, private school enrolment declines in urban areas.
We observe an increased share of children enrolled in private schools. In rural areas, the share of children enrolled in private schools increased from 20.9% to 25.9% in primary level. In urban areas, the share of children enrolled in private schools increased from 50.5% to 55.3% at the primary level, and from 41.8% to 49.8% at the middle level. Enrolment in government and private schools is closely linked with educational expenditure. The survey asked whether students had to pay any course fee. In rural areas, 25.3% of government school students and 98.2% of private school students reported paying course fees. In urban areas, 34.7% of government school students and 98% of private school students reported paying course fees.
The survey reveals that for fees per academic year in government schools, rural fees range from Rs. 823 (pre-primary) to Rs.7,308 (higher secondary), while urban fees range from Rs.1,630 (pre-primary) to Rs.7,704 (higher secondary). In private schools, rural fees start at Rs.17,988 (pre-primary) and go up to Rs.33,567 (higher secondary), while urban fees range from Rs.26,188 (pre-primary) to Rs.49,075 (higher secondary).
When these figures are converted into monthly terms, the financial burden of private schooling becomes even more apparent. In rural areas, monthly expenditure on private schooling ranges from Rs.1,499 for pre-primary to Rs.2,797 for higher secondary. In urban areas, these figures rise significantly, from Rs.2,182 to Rs.4,089. When compared to the Monthly Per Capita Expenditure (MPCE) from the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2023-24 survey, it is evident that the cost of private schooling at the pre-primary level is roughly equivalent to the monthly income of the poorest 5% of households, while the cost at the higher secondary level aligns with the MPCE of households in the third income decile. This stark contrast underscores the financial strain that many families face in accessing quality education.
The survey collected information on whether a student was taking or had taken private coaching during the current academic year. In this survey, information on private coaching was collected separately and not as a component of expenditure on school education. The survey found that 25.5% of children in rural areas and 30.7% in urban areas take private coaching. In the rural and urban sectors, the proportion of students taking private tuition increases as we move from lower to higher levels of education. In rural areas, it is 10.7% at pre-primary, 21.6% at primary, 29.1% at middle, 36.7% at secondary, and 33.1% at higher secondary. In urban areas, it is 13.6% at pre-primary, 26.6% at primary, 31% at middle, 40.2% at secondary, and 44.6% at higher secondary.
The average expenditure on private coaching per reported student during the current academic year is higher in the urban sector than in the rural sector. It is Rs.13,026 in urban areas and Rs.7,066 in rural areas. The average expenditure on private coaching increases as we move from lower to higher levels of education. In rural areas, it is Rs.3,980 for pre-primary, Rs.4,825 for primary, Rs.6,043 for middle, Rs.8,616 for secondary, and Rs.13,803 for higher secondary. In urban areas, it is Rs.5,815 for pre-primary, Rs.7,947 for primary, Rs.10,765 for middle, Rs.16,415 for secondary, and Rs.22,394 for higher secondary.
Research shows that higher household income, better educated parents, and urban residence are strongly correlated with a greater demand for private tuition. Studies also observe a positive and significant effect of private tutoring on students’ learning outcomes.
Private schooling charges relatively high fees. Many teachers in private schools are underpaid and often underqualified, which leads students to rely on private tutoring for academic support. Further, some scholars argue that private tuition has also become a symbol of prestige among families.
Despite the constitutional guarantee of free education, a significant proportion of students, (24.3% in rural and 51.4% in urban), attend private schools that require substantial fees. With private tuition further burdening household finances, education is becoming increasingly unaffordable for many families, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds.
This trend is not only exacerbating inequalities in access to quality education but also threatening the very principle of basic and universal education. As government schools face declining enrolment, children from economically disadvantaged families are being pushed into the private education system, often at the cost of significant financial strain. Hence, strengthening the quality of learning in publicly funded schools can arrest this trend.
Addressing these challenges requires urgent reforms. Strengthening the quality and accessibility of government schools is paramount to ensuring that education remains a right, not a privilege. Studies find that private tuition is negatively associated with school quality indicators. This implies that students at ‘better’ schools rely less on tutoring. Thus, strengthening the quality of learning would help bridge the widening gap between students from different socio-economic backgrounds. It is only through these efforts that we can move toward achieving truly equitable and inclusive education for all children in India.
