Noida Doctor’s Viral Outcry Over Rising School Fees Sparks National Debate on Education Costs

Children's education, which for a long time was seen as a surefire way for one's social mobility, is increasingly turning out to be a source of financial and emotional pressure for many urban households in India. The ever increasing school fees have gone beyond mere numbers on budget sheets, quietly changing the way parents live, plan, and make sacrifices.

This escalating worry found a strong outlet first through Dr Shraddhey Katiyar, a doctor from Noida, whose post on social media platform X has stirred a massive conversation about the real cost of schooling in India. His statement touched the hearts of parents who feel the pressure every day but hardly ever express it publicly.

“School fees don’t just test a parent’s income. They test their silence,” Katiyar wrote, capturing what many families endure year after year. According to him, fee hikes are rarely protested openly; instead, parents absorb the increases quietly—skipping holidays, postponing personal goals, and taking on extra work to keep their children enrolled.

“Every year, the number rises. And parents quietly adjust life around it. Fewer vacations. Delayed dreams. Extra shifts. No complaints. Just quiet sacrifice,” his post read.

Katiyar also questioned the justification schools often provide for repeated fee increases. Despite assurances of “quality education” and improved infrastructure, he pointed out that many classrooms remain overcrowded while teachers continue to be underpaid. “A child’s future should not feel like a monthly threat,” he wrote, arguing that education should not resemble a recurring financial warning.

Warning of the broader consequences, Katiyar said that when schooling begins to feel like a luxury rather than a basic right, it inevitably excludes deserving children. “Education was meant to uplift families, not exhaust them,” he noted, adding that children often grow up realising “their parents paid the price, silently.”

The post struck a chord online, prompting parents across cities to share similar experiences. Many spoke of cutting back on essentials to manage annual fee hikes. One user commented, “Too much unnecessary expense. The quality of teaching is low, and lavish campuses seem to be the priority.” Another wrote, “Most schools feel like factories—making money without delivering meaningful learning.”

Some highlighted the social pressure surrounding fee protests. “Parents remain silent because speaking up damages their reputation,” a user observed. Another one added, "Schools have turned into a cartel, increasing fees every year without any justification."

Now that the debate is heating up, Katiyar's post has once again brought up the unpleasant issues of affordability, accountability, and whether the schooling system in India is moving away from its original promise of equal opportunity."