₹2.2 lakh for Senior KG: is expensive the only option?

This image is doing the rounds. ₹2.2 lakh+ for Senior KG!
And the usual narrative is:“#Education is becoming unaffordable.”
But here’s a slightly uncomfortable thought: Is expensive education the only option?

A few years back, an ex-colleague reached out for advice.
He came from a lower-middle-class background. After years of struggle, he finally got #financial stability.

Now, as a parent, he wanted “The best education” for his child!
My response was blunt:
- There are all kinds of schools in this country.
- Choose one that doesn't pinch your pocket.

Because #fees are just the beginning, there are multiple hidden costs, like
School trips (the higher the fees, the fancier the trips)
Books, events, activities
And the biggest one: #PeerPressure
If classmates have: Latest gadgets, International vacations.
The pressure doesn’t stay with the child; it reaches the parents!

If we look back, most of us:
Studied in “normal” schools
Didn’t have fancy infrastructure
Still did reasonably well in life

Education is important.
But financial stress in the name of education?
That’s completely avoidable.

India offers everything:
International schools charging lakhs
Government schools are charging a few thousand
The question is not: “What is the best school?”
It is: “What is the best school for you?”
Because the goal is not just good education…It’s a balanced life.