As most schools in the state capital closed for the two-month summer holiday on Saturday, private tuition centres are preparing for a fresh influx of students. Amid rising inflation, soaring school fees, and mounting concerns over falling education standards, parents say that private tuition is no longer a “luxury” but a “necessity”.

Once limited to board exam aspirants, tuition culture today extends to children as young as those in Class 3. Experts link this trend to growing academic competition, overcrowded classrooms, and heightened parental anxiety about their children’s futures.

“With school fees increasing every year and separate payments for tuition, it’s becoming unmanageable for middle-class families like ours,” said Sunita Sharma, 39, a homemaker from Bairagarh. Her husband, a sales executive, and she spend almost Rs 8,000 a month on tuition for their two children, apart from school fees.

Bijendra Singh Tomar, a UPSC aspirant father, recalled, “In our time, coaching was for weak students. Later, it became a luxury for the rich. Now, it’s an inseparable part of education. I haven't seen anyone top without coaching.”

His son, Ashish, added, “With inflation and the rat race, we need tuition to stay ahead. We want to build a secure future for ourselves and our parents.”

Vikram Thakur, a farmer and father of two, said, “My income depends on God and the weather. I don’t want my children’s lives to be so uncertain. I’m ready to sacrifice everything to give them a better education. Coaching helps them stay focused.”

Santosh Singh Tomar, who has a college-going daughter and a school-going son, shared, “We live near Mrinal Residency. Their school fees are over Rs 2 lakh a year. It’s a heavy burden, but if they succeed, our prayers will be answered. If not, it will all be for nothing.”

Parents, students, and educationists alike agree: private tuition has become indispensable. “In classes of 40 to 50 students, a teacher can't give individual attention,” said Rohit Thakur, 16, a Class 10 student from Kolar. “At tuition, at least my doubts are properly cleared.”

Earlier reserved for the wealthy, the trend has now spread to lower-income groups, with parents enrolling children in English, mathematics, and science coaching. “Schools today are focused on projects, functions, and formalities. Core learning often takes a backseat,” said Vibha Mathur, a tuition teacher in Arera Colony.

The financial strain is stark. “Last year, my son’s school increased fees by 9 per cent, and now his tuition teacher has raised charges too,” said Amit Verma, a bank employee from Ayodhya Nagar. “Household bills have almost doubled. It feels like we earn only to pay fees.”

“Earlier, Rs 2,500 per month sufficed for good tuition. Now, for senior classes, it’s Rs 5,000 or more per subject,” said Neeraj Yadav, a coaching teacher from MP Nagar.

Competitive exam coaching comes at a premium. For IIT-JEE and NEET, institutes charge between Rs 1.2 lakh and Rs 2.5 lakh a year. “My daughter is preparing for NEET, and we are paying Rs 1.8 lakh annually, apart from school fees,” said Deepak Jha, 47, an LIC agent near Hoshangabad Road.

Manish Pandey, a senior CBSE school teacher in Shahpura, said, “Students are becoming too reliant on spoon-feeding. Many schools have become commercialised, pushing parents towards coaching.”

“My neighbour’s son has joined a Rs 50,000 summer crash course for IIT preparation. We can’t even dream of affording that,” said Neelam Patel, 35, a single mother from Govindpura.

“If schools consistently delivered quality education, there would be no need for private coaching,” said Ravindra Verma, a retired educationist.

Experts warn that over-scheduling children could harm their autonomy, mental health, and long-term motivation.