Government or Private School?

Why millions of Indian families pay for private schools, including low-fee ones, what research says about learning differences, and the costs to families.

A striking trend in Indian education is the growth of private schools, even among poorer families. A large share of Indian children, especially in cities, now attend private schools.

Why families choose private schools

English medium instruction, seen as a path to better jobs.
Perceived quality and teacher attendance.
Discipline and facilities.
Status.

Many are low-fee private schools, charging a few hundred to a few thousand rupees a month.

What research shows

Private school students often score higher on tests, but much of this reflects family background.
A large randomised study in Andhra Pradesh by Karthik Muralidharan and Venkatesh Sundararaman, using a school voucher lottery, found that private school students did about as well in Telugu and maths as government school students, while private schools spent much less per child and taught additional subjects like English and Hindi.
Private school teachers are often paid far less than government teachers.

Costs to families

Private schooling can take a big share of family income, including fees, uniforms, books and transport. During the pandemic, many families moved children back to government schools as incomes fell.

Policy questions

How to improve government schools so families don’t feel forced to pay.
How to regulate private schools’ fees and quality.
Whether to use vouchers or partnerships.

The family budget

A rickshaw driver in Lucknow spends a sixth of his income on private school fees for his two children, hoping English skills will give them better jobs. When his income falls during a lockdown, he moves them to a government school.

Thinking private schools are only for the rich

Many low-fee private schools serve lower-income families willing to pay for perceived quality and English.

Key takeaways

Private schools educate a large share of Indian children, including poorer families.
English medium, perceived quality and discipline drive demand.
An Andhra Pradesh voucher study found similar learning at much lower cost per child.
Fees can strain family budgets.