A new academic year has begun with a financial jolt for many families across Mangaluru and the undivided Dakshina Kannada region, as private schools roll out noticeable fee hikes.

Institutions affiliated to state, CBSE, and ICSE boards have increased fees by an estimated 8% to 15%, citing a steady rise in operational costs. For parents, however, the jump—ranging from ₹3,500 to ₹10,000 per child—comes at a time when household budgets are already stretched by inflation.

For some, the change has been sharp. A parent with a child in a CBSE school near Kodialbail said their annual fee rose from around ₹46,000 last year to nearly ₹52,000 this year—far steeper than the usual yearly increase of ₹3,000 to ₹4,000. Others echoed similar concerns, noting that this is the second consecutive year of noticeable hikes.

Across different schools, the pattern varies. Some institutions follow a fixed annual increment—around 5% in certain ICSE schools near Surathkal—while others have raised fees by 8% to 10%. Even where the increases appear moderate, parents say the cumulative burden is growing.

That burden goes beyond tuition. Transport charges alone, currently ranging between ₹1,500 and ₹2,500 per month, are also expected to rise. Add to that the cost of uniforms, books, and other essentials, and many families say education expenses are becoming increasingly difficult to manage.

School managements, on their part, insist the revisions are unavoidable. St Aloysius Gonzaga School principal Rev Fr Rohan D’Almeida explained that a large portion of school revenue is spent on staff salaries, with the rest going towards maintenance and academic programmes. With competition for qualified teachers intensifying, schools say offering better pay packages has become necessary.

At the same time, many institutions are trying to ease the pressure through flexible payment options. Fee instalments—spread across two to four parts during the year—are now widely offered. According to a CBSE school head, this system has become vital for families facing financial strain, including single parents and those who have recently lost jobs.

This year, schools have also seen an increase in requests for concessions, particularly from parents working in Gulf countries. With incomes affected by ongoing tensions in West Asia, several families have sought both instalment plans and partial fee relief.

Meanwhile, changes in how schools handle books and stationery have added another layer to the system. With restrictions on direct sales, some schools now invite external vendors onto campus, allowing parents to purchase supplies themselves.

As classrooms fill up once again, the rising cost of education is becoming as much a concern as the learning itself—leaving many parents balancing aspirations with affordability.