If you thought only IIT, PMT or CAT preparation costs a fortune, sample this. Preparing for CBSE Boards alone can cost anything between INR 5,000 and INR 1.5 lakh these days. A student's tuitions , sample papers, reference material and other facilities like internet and printing cartridges all add up to an exorbitant amount. And, parents don't mind spending over and above the school fees for that 'good' aggregate. Manju Tripathi, whose son studies in Class XII in Naval Public School, pays around INR 500 per hour for her son's private tuitions. 'Education is expensive. We don't mind paying because a good percentage will only help my son get into a good college. But it hurts to see tuitions become so commercial and the tutors are not dedicated,' said Tripathi.
The cost of helping their child gear up for Boards has gone beyond limits for many couples, specially those who are single-earners . But since a good aggregate is 'indispensable' and school teaching is hardly sufficient, some parents even take a loan to bear the expenses . Peer pressure also comes in play for parents as they want their child's preparation to be better than their friends' child.
