Rs 2.51 Lakh Yearly Fee For Nursery: Hyderabad School’s Fee Structure Causes Social Media Discussion

A Hyderabad-based private school affiliated with Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), Nasr School, has found itself at the centre of an intense online debate after its fee structure for the academic year 2025-26 revealed a yearly charge of Rs 2.51 lakh for nursery admissions. The revelation, though not big when compared to top schools in the country which charge seven or eight times fee than this, shared by an X user Anuradha Tiwari with the caption “Now, learning ABCD will cost you Rs 21,000 per month,” quickly went viral, fuelling discussions on affordability, elitism, and the commodification of early education.

The detailed fee structure shows that the Rs 2.51 lakh annual charge for nursery includes a tuition fee of Rs 1.91 lakh, a one-time admission fee of Rs 5,000, an initiation fee of Rs 45,000, and a refundable caution deposit of Rs 10,000. The payment is split into four instalments: Rs 74,000 at registration, followed by three instalments of Rs 59,000 each.

This fee increases with each grade level.

For Pre-Primary I and II, the yearly charge rises to Rs 2.72 lakh, while Classes I and II cost Rs 2.91 lakh per year. For Classes III to V, the annual fee climbs to Rs 3.22 lakh. The structure applies to new admissions only and includes a combination of tuition, admission, initiation, and caution fees. The steep pricing has drawn sharp criticism and spirited defences from social media users alike.

Class- Nursery
Fees – Rs 2,51,000/-

Now, learning ABCD will cost you Rs 21,000 per month.

What are these schools even teaching to justify such a ridiculously high fee? pic.twitter.com/DkWOVC28Qs

— Anuradha Tiwari (@talk2anuradha) July 30, 2025

One user bluntly stated, “If one cannot afford the fees, don’t send your kids to this school, simple and straight.” Another pointed out that the school was simply exercising its market position, writing, “The schools are using their brand merit and asking a fee. It’s called capitalism.” The user further argued that complaining about high fees while celebrating academic merit and free-market principles was a contradiction in itself.

Others saw it as a reflection of social divisions. “These are schools where the elites would send their children to seclude them from 95% of Indians,” one user commented, comparing the trend to elite boarding schools in the West. Some likened the phenomenon to luxury brand loyalty, stating, “I’m sure you have an overpriced iPhone you use to post this. You chose to pay because you saw value. Same goes for schools.”

Critics, however, highlighted broader systemic issues. “We all want quality education to be free for every child. No one will oppose that. But instead of investing in real reform, the government drains the treasury on endless freebies for vote banks. Meanwhile, Rs 2.5 lakh fees for nursery go unquestioned. Priorities?” one user remarked.

Nasr School, established in 1965 by Begum Anees Khan, is part of the Nasr Education Society and has a long-standing reputation in Hyderabad’s educational landscape. The school has distinct branches for girls (Khairtabad), boys (Gachibowli), and pre-primary students. Affiliated with the CISCE, Nasr School follows the ICSE and ISC curricula and is known for a holistic approach that includes academics, sports, and extracurricular activities.

With state-of-the-art infrastructure, science and computer labs, libraries, and extensive sports facilities, Nasr School has maintained a strong brand value among Hyderabad’s upper-middle-class and elite families. Its alumni list includes notable personalities such as tennis star Sania Mirza and actress Dia Mirza. In an effort to balance exclusivity with social responsibility, the school also runs a branch in Somajiguda offering free education, uniforms, books, and food to underprivileged girls.

While Nasr’s fees are high by most standards, they are still dwarfed by charges at some of India’s premier boarding and international schools. Woodstock School in Mussoorie reportedly charges around Rs 18 lakh per year, while Rishi Valley School in Chittoor demands approximately Rs 15.3 lakh annually. Schools such as Mayo College in Ajmer, Welham Girls’ School in Dehradun, and The Scindia School in Gwalior also charge between Rs 13 to 14.5 lakh per year. Even in metropolitan cities, institutions like Shiv Nadar School in Gurgaon command fees upwards of Rs 8 lakh for their international curricula.