'Indian parents aren’t saving for dreams, but for fees': CA shares why he is scared about his 2.5 year old daughter

Chartered Accountant (CA) and entrepreneur Deepak Bhati has raised big concerns about the fast growing cost of private school education in India, saying parents today are not saving anymore for dreams but to just cover school fees. In a LinkedIn post, Bhati shared that his daughter is only two-and-a-half years old, but he is already worried about the financial burden of sending her to school. His post has triggered wide discussion online about the affordability of education in urban India.

‘Education today isn’t just expensive, it’s unaffordable’

“My daughter is just 2.5 years old… and I’m already scared. Not of her going to school. But of the price tag that comes with it,” Bhati wrote. He pointed out that in Tier-1 cities, parents now spend between ₹2.5–3.5 lakh annually per child on school-related expenses, which include fees, books, uniforms, and transport.

Bhati said this level of spending can consume 40–50% of a middle-class family’s yearly income. “Education today isn’t just expensive, it’s becoming unaffordable,” he added.


To highlight the scale of the issue, he gave examples from across the country. At the CBSE level, Class 3 fees can already reach ₹2.1 lakh per year. In Hyderabad, nursery fees alone have touched ₹2.51 lakh annually, or nearly ₹21,000 per month.

Parents saving for fees, not aspirations

Bhati’s said: “Parents aren’t saving for dreams anymore. They’re saving for fees.” He explained that the education challenge goes beyond the choice between private and government schools.

According to him, “Admission feels like an auction. Tuition feels like an EMI. And quality still feels like a lottery.” His words reflected the frustration of many parents who feel trapped between affordability and the desire to give their children the best possible education.

The larger concern for society

Bhati further warned that rising education costs could have long-term social consequences. “Yes, we all want the best for our kids. But if knowledge becomes a privilege, not a right – we’re not building a smarter generation. We’re building a divided one,” he wrote.

His comments highlight fears that quality education may increasingly become accessible only to wealthier families, leaving others struggling to afford even basic schooling. This widening gap, he suggested, could lead to unequal opportunities in the future.

Growing online discussion

Bhati’s post sparked responses from several professionals and parents on LinkedIn who shared their own experiences. Some agreed that education is becoming the single largest expense in a household budget, while others pointed out how additional costs such as extracurricular activities, digital learning tools, and transport further increase the financial burden.

Many commenters echoed his view that despite high fees, the quality of education is not always guaranteed, adding to parents’ frustration.

A reflection of urban realities

The discussion mirrors a broader trend across India’s urban centres, where middle-class families face rising costs for schooling, healthcare, and housing. Education, once seen as a pathway to upward mobility, is increasingly being viewed as a financial struggle that shapes family priorities.

Bhati’s post, though personal, reflects a common sentiment among parents: that while they want to invest in their children’s future, the growing price tag of school education is forcing them to rethink their financial plans.