In Bengaluru, parents are reeling under skyrocketing private school fees, with annual charges ranging from ₹1.5–2 lakh for nursery alone. To ease this burden, schools are tying up with private financiers, offering EMI-based fee payments. However, parent groups argue this move commercializes education and normalizes unaffordable costs instead of addressing the lack of fee regulations.

Additional expenses for books, transport, and activities add up to ₹30,000, often pushing families into debt. Many parents complain of being misled about loan terms, facing high interest rates and even harassment from agents. Despite repeated complaints, the state lacks a regulatory framework, with the education department claiming limited authority over private institutions’ finances.

While Karnataka’s child rights commission has flagged some schools, no strong enforcement exists. Parents urge the government to act under the RTE Act, holding schools and financiers accountable before education becomes a privilege rather than a right.