Rs 3 lakh for kindergarten?: Mom in Mumbai says school tour felt like a sales pitch, not education

“Rs 3 lakh per annum for Jr KG. What exactly are we paying for?” That’s the question one mother in Mumbai asks after a school tour that seemed more like a luxury brand showcase than a glimpse into her 3-year-old’s future.

Soumya Mani took to LinkedIn to describe her surreal experience inside one of the so-called ‘international schools’ in Mumbai. From serving cappuccinos in an upscale café-style lounge, to filling out forms detailing their work titles and degrees, she says the whole process felt more institutional than educational.

The school tour was meticulously designed: smart lifts, elegant conference rooms, uniformed carers outside every classroom, and a counselor who confidently linked Mani’s profession to the virtues of the Cambridge curriculum.

“The Know Your Customer (KYC) process was done properly,” she wrote.

They were shown innovation labs, auditoriums and makerspaces. But something was missing. “The school lacks spirit,” she wrote. No laughter, no chaos, just silence, structure and branding.

Her husband finally exhaled when they reached the pre-primary floor and he heard the children running around.

Then came the price, which eventually came down. Rs 3 lakh per annum for a child of 3.5 years, with an annual increase of 8%. “Two kids – goodbye annual trips!” Manny wrote.

“Does it make financial sense to spend over Rs 6 lakh a year for kindergarten?”

With no clarity on the quality of teaching and no room for negotiation, I wondered whether the fees paid for tuition or optics. “If it’s just about air-conditioned classrooms, luxury infrastructure and huge advertising budgets, then that’s something to think about.”

interval? A follow-up call from the school asked her to rate the counselor on a scale of 1 to 5. “Amazed,” she said. “I just experienced the most elaborate sales presentation of my life.”