Urban Indian parents are shelling out anywhere between ₹5,000 and ₹25,000 for extracurricular activities (ECAs), turning what should be enriching experiences into pricey status symbols.
Take Delhi-based Ritu Mehra, who enrolled her son in a “Leadership Through Theatre” programme, only to be stunned by a ₹25,000 bill for a 12-week session. “The only thing he enjoyed was the snacks,” she quips.
India’s National Education Policy 2020 advocates holistic development, but in reality, most ECAs are outsourced to private vendors, accessible only to affluent families.
Typical ECA costs in urban private schools:
- Coding classes: ₹15,000–₹20,000 for 8 weeks
- MUN coaching: ₹5,000–₹12,000
- Music/dance clubs: ₹6,000–₹15,000 per term
- Olympiad prep: ₹8,000–₹25,000 annually
This is in addition to regular school expenses running into lakhs.
Experts warn that many parents are falling into the trap of “resume-padding” to secure coveted college admissions abroad. “Kids are juggling multiple clubs but mastering none,” says education consultant Sangeeta Menon.
In contrast, countries like the US, UK, Finland, and Singapore offer ECAs free or subsidised, ensuring access regardless of income.
While genuine ECAs can build critical skills—creativity, collaboration, and leadership—shallow, expensive programmes often deliver little lasting benefit.
Experts recommend reforms:
- Integrate ECAs into school hours
- Train in-house faculty instead of outsourcing
- Focus on depth over variety
- Cap fees to prevent exclusion
Ambition without inclusivity risks making ECAs yet another burden, not an opportunity.