EDUCATION

Nursery schools’ fee prohibitive
From Deepkamal Kaur

LUDHIANA, Dec 25 — Running a nursery school is probably the best lucrative proposition given the limited inputs and the huge outputs. The admission fee in the nursery schools of Ludhiana ranges between Rs 2,000 to Rs 12,000, depending on the self-proclaimed standard of the school. It hardly takes anything to start a nursery school. Neither any prior permission from the government is required nor any specifications and norms are to be observed. A couple of extra rooms in the house provide sufficient space for a nursery school.

Even the admission forms which are priced between Rs 25 and Rs 100 generate huge income for the school owners. The total seats usually range between 80 and 150 and the number of aspirants is five to six times high. The school owners lure parents by assuring them of admission of their tiny tots in reputed schools of the city next year.

Even the monthly charges are very high, ranging between Rs 250 and Rs 500.

Some of the parents informed that influence and money were two vital factors for admission in these schools. ‘‘Last year my son could not get admission in a nursery school in Civil Lines. So I contacted a friend who knew the principal of that school and our desire was fulfilled,’’ said a mother, whose daughter is a student of one such school.

While the elite are hardly bothered about the high fee structure in these schools, parents from the middle and lower class seem much worried. Surinder Kaur, mother of a three-year-old girl, says, ‘‘If I can not afford a good nursery-level education for my daughter, I doubt that I will be able to pay for her higher education.’’

Interestingly, most of the parents prefer that their children get admission in senior secondary schools having nursery classes to avoid admission charges for two consecutive years. Ms Vandana Sharma, resident of Haibowal, says, ‘‘I will prefer that my daughter gets admission in nursery class of a reputed high school now or else I will have to deposit Rs 5000 this year in a playway school and nearly the same amount in the next year for her admission in a high school.’’

However, some of the reputed senior secondary schools of the city are still without any nursery classes, giving these schools a good opportunity to generate high incomes in the process.

LUDHIANA, Dec 25 — The Oyster Pearl Cultural Club organised dance and fancy dress contests for school going children at the Lions Bhavan here today.

Children from various schools were categorised into three groups — group A with kids from four to eight years of age, group B with children from eight to 12 years and group C with children of the age group of 12 to 16 years. In group A, there were six participants. Khushbu danced on the song Piya piya, Gayatri performed on Munda tu hai Punjabi sohna and Anshu danced on the Punjabi number Ik dana.

In group B, Surbhi gave a solo performance on song Ik charkha gali de wich daah leya, Tarun danced on Tote tote and Pratibha performed on the English number Barbie girl.

In group C, Shelly danced on Soni soni akhiyon wali, Nanu performed on the Hindi number Ankhen khuli hon ya ho bandh and Nidhi enthralled the audience with her performance on I love my India.

The children also participated in a fancy dress contest. Some of them were dressed up as Santa Claus, while others were dressed up as fairies, doctors, teachers, vegetable sellers and Christmas tree.

Mr Manjinder Singh and Mr Rajbir Singh were the judges. Mr Yogesh, coordinator of the function, said the programme was organised to boost latent skills of children and to enthuse confidence in them.