Education in India : Basic right for some, Privilege for many

'The Cost of Education in India' VS 'The Cost of Living'

We all have heard these 3 basic human needs "Roti ,Kapda or Makan" but there is one more "Education", Which doesn't need any explanation that why it is a necessity. Education is a basic right, but still, it's privilege for a lot. Let see how and why?

India is a country with a large population and a huge demand for education. However, the cost of education in India is often very high compared to the cost of living, especially for lower-class families and students who aspire to pursue higher studies. In this blog post, we will explore how much it costs to get an education in India, how it affects the lower class and the country's literacy rate, and what are some of the challenges and solutions for making education more affordable and accessible. India where average per capita income is around 10,500 INR Per month, Let see how much does it cost to get the basic right "Education"?

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How much does it cost to get an education in India?

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According to a report by IBEF, the education sector in India was estimated to be worth US$ 117 billion in FY20 and is expected to reach US$ 225 billion by FY25. Most Indian schools charge between '2 to 6 Lakhs' INR per academic year, regardless of the level of study. Degrees that require the frequent use of facilities, like medicine or engineering, will generally veer towards the higher end of this spectrum.

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However, these are only the tuition fees, which do not include other expenses such as admission fees, transportation fees, examination fees, books, stationery, uniforms, etc. According to an article by NDTV, the overall expenditure of schooling a child in India in a private school from age 3 to age 17 is a whopping Rs 30 lakh (about $40,000). This does not include the cost of college education, which can range from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 1 crore (about $13,000 to $130,000) depending on the course and institution.

Coaching institutes and their so-called "affordable fees"

Moreover, many students aspire to crack competitive exams such as UPSC, JEE, NEET, CAT, SSC, Bank Exams, etc., which can open the doors to prestigious careers and Government opportunities. However, these exams are not easy to prepare for, and often require additional coaching or online courses that can cost anywhere from Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh (about $700 to $7,000) per year. This is a huge financial burden for many families, especially in a country where the average annual income is around Rs 1.4 lakh (about $2,000).

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But the cost is not the only challenge that these students face. They also have to deal with immense pressure from their parents, peers, teachers and society, who expect them to succeed in these exams and secure a bright future. Many students relocate to other states or cities where they can access better coaching facilities and resources, but this also means leaving behind their friends, family and familiar environment. They have to cope with loneliness, stress and anxiety, while studying for long hours and competing with thousands of other aspirants.

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Unfortunately, not everyone who takes these exams can achieve their goals. The success rate of these exams is very low, ranging from 0.1% to 10%, depending on the exam and the number of applicants. This means that many students end up wasting years and lakhs of rupees without getting their desired results. Some of them may lose hope and confidence and feel like failures. Some of them may even resort to extreme measures such as suicide, which is a tragic outcome of the high-stakes and high-pressure education system in India.

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Cost of education compared to the cost of living.

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According to Numbeo, the cost of living in India is, on average, 69.2% lower than in United States. However, this does not mean that India is an affordable country for everyone. A person working in India typically earns?around 31,900 INR per month (Average). Salaries range from 8,080 INR (lowest average) to 143,000 INR (Highest average), which is barely enough to cover the basic living expenses for a single person. A family of four estimated monthly costs are Around 90 thousand which means that they would have to spend more than half of their income on rent if they live in a city like Mumbai or Delhi.

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The cost of living also varies widely across different states and cities in India. For example, according to Livingcost.org, the average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Delhi is around 20-25K INR, and cost for a PG for students is around 15k INR while in Kolkata it is only 3000 to 8000 INR. Similarly, the average cost of living for a family in Delhi is 1.15 Lakh INR per month, while in Patna it is only 33K INR per month, while their education expenses and fees are 2x their living expenses.

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It is clear that the cost of education in India is much higher than the cost of living for most people. About 70% of rural Indians are not able to complete 10th class education; the same number stands at over 40% for urban India. In higher education, only 1 in every ten Indians has a graduate degree and above. This means that many students have to take loans or scholarships to fund their education, or drop out due to financial constraints.

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How does the cost of education affect the lower class and the country's literacy rate?

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The high cost of education impact most on the lower class and the country's literacy rate. According to UNESCO, India has an adult literacy rate of 74.4%, which is below the world average of 86.3%. The literacy rate also varies widely across states, regions, genders, and social groups. For instance, Kerala has a literacy rate of 94%, while Bihar has only 63%. Similarly, the literacy rate for males is 81%, while for females it is 65%, the literacy rate for scheduled castes (SCs) is 66%, while for scheduled tribes (STs) it is 59%.

Moreover, India has about 287 million illiterate adults, which is the largest number in the world.

?The Public education Sector of India

One of the main reasons for this low literacy rate is the lack of access and affordability of quality education for the lower class. According to a report by ASER Centre, only 56% of children aged 6-14 years were enrolled in government schools in 2018-19, while 43% were enrolled in private schools. The report also found that there was a significant gap between the learning outcomes of students from different types of schools. For example, only 44% of students from government schools could read a standard II level text, while 65% of students from private schools could do so, and only 28% can do a simple division problem.

Public schools in India are supposed to provide free and compulsory education to all children between the ages of 6 and 14, as per the Right to Education Act of 2009. However, many public schools suffer from inadequate infrastructure, lack of qualified teachers, high student-teacher ratios, poor curriculum, and low learning outcomes. According to a report by the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) Centre, only 50% of the students in grade 5 can read a grade 2 text, and only 28% can do a simple division problem.

Another reason for the low literacy rate is the high dropout rate among students, especially girls and those from marginalized communities. According to a report by UNICEF, India has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world, with about 6.2 million children aged 6-13 years not attending school in 2018. The report also stated that the main reasons for dropping out of school were poverty, child labor, child marriage, social norms, and poor quality of education...

The low quality of education in public schools affects the literacy rate of the country, public schools, entrusted with the goal of providing free education and ensuring accessibility for everyone, are the ones with alarmingly high dropout and failure rates, Irony Right?

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What are some of the challenges and solutions for making education more affordable and accessible in India?

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Some of the challenges that India faces in making education more affordable and accessible are:

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- Lack of adequate infrastructure and resources in government schools, such as classrooms, teachers, textbooks, toilets, etc.

- Lack of regulation and transparency in private schools, such as fee structure, admission criteria, quality standards, etc.

- Lack of awareness and aspiration among parents and students, especially in rural areas and slums, about the importance and benefits of education.

- Lack of financial support and incentives for students and families, such as scholarships, loans, subsidies, etc.

- Lack of innovation and diversity in the curriculum and pedagogy, such as online learning, vocational training, life skills, etc.

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Some of the possible solutions that India can adopt to overcome these challenges are:

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- Increase public spending and investment in education, especially in primary and secondary levels, to improve the infrastructure and quality of government schools.

- Implement strict norms and guidelines for private schools, such as fee regulation, admission policy, accreditation system, grievance redressal mechanism, etc.

- Launch awareness campaigns and counseling programs for parents and students, especially in rural areas and slums, to motivate them to enroll and continue their education.

- Provide financial assistance and incentives for students and families, such as scholarships, loans, subsidies, etc., based on merit and need.

- Introduce innovation and diversity in the curriculum and pedagogy, such as online learning, vocational training, life skills, etc., to make education more relevant and engaging for students.

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Conclusion

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Education is a fundamental right and a key factor for the development of any country. However, in India, the cost of education is often very high compared to the cost of living, which creates a barrier for many people to access quality education. so, in India education more is like a privilege, This affects the lower class and the country's literacy rate adversely. Therefore, India needs to address the challenges and implement the solutions to make education more affordable and accessible for everyone making education more affordable and accessible & Developing Public education Sector as its top priority.