The Rising Cost and Diminishing Value of Learning

RK News
Comments 0
13 Nov 2025

ARFAT MANZOOR Inflation is generally understood as the increase in prices of goods and services over time, which diminishes the purchasing power of money. While discussions about inflation primarily focus on essential items such as food, fuel, and housing, an important area often overlooked is education. Educational inflation refers to the rising costs associated with obtaining an education without a corresponding enhancement in its quality, accessibility, or outcomes. Over the past few decades, education—once regarded as a fundamental right and a pathway to empowerment—has increasingly transformed into a commercialized service. This shift has placed significant financial burdens on families while yielding diminishing returns in terms of learning and employability. The fundamental issue lies not only in the rising costs but also in the declining perceived value of education. Parents and students alike are beginning to question whether the education for which they are investing is truly worth the expense. While many parents are willing to pay any amount for their children's education, the critical question remains: are they receiving adequate value in return for their investment in education?Are higher fees translating into better learning experiences, improved infrastructure, or enhanced outcomes? Unfortunately, in many cases, the answer is no. Educational inflation extends beyond merely escalating tuition fees. It encompasses the growing expenses associated with uniforms, books, transportation, private tutoring, and digital learning tools. Every level of education, from preschool to university, has experienced a marked increase in costs. For many middle-class and lower-income families, education now constitutes a substantial portion of household income. In urban settings, for instance, the cost of sending a child to a private school can consume nearly 20 to 30 percent of a family’s monthly earnings. Even rural households, which traditionally relied on public schools, are increasingly turning to private institutions due to the perception of superior quality, further straining their limited finances. Recently, the government directed private schools to stop charging the previously exorbitant admission fees. For many households, the monthly fee for nursery and pre-nursery children in private schools’ accounts for about 20 percent of their total monthly income. However, the government hasn't shied away from raising education costs. It has significantly increased admission fees for colleges and higher secondary schools. Additionally, fees charged by private institutions outside of Jammu and Kashmir are also not providing relief for parents. The need of the hour is that both the government and private school associations work towards making education more affordable for lower, middle, and underprivileged classes. Furthermore, the government should focus on improving the infrastructure and quality of education in public schools, ensuring that those in need can access educational opportunities. This effort will help promote equality in education. (Author is Ph.D. Commerce)