100 Back to School Scams in India
- Madhukar Dama
- 20 hours ago
- 25 min read
An unflinching exposé of how Indian schools quietly extract money, time, and trust from families every year.
Introduction: The Annual Ritual That Isn’t About Education
Every June, the streets of India buzz with a familiar anxiety. Parents scramble, children sulk, and markets light up—not with celebration, but with a well-oiled machinery of pressure and profit. “Back to School” is not a transition. It’s a transaction. What should have been a simple return to books becomes a nationwide consumer frenzy. And behind every uniform, lunchbox, tuition class, and motivational speech is an industry waiting to cash in.
Let’s peel the layers. Slowly. Brutally. With real Indian examples. No fluff.
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1. The Uniform Mafia: Stitching Profits into Identity
How It Works:
Private schools in cities like Pune, Bengaluru, and Surat often tie up with select tailors or vendors. Parents are handed a slip, not a choice. One pair costs ₹1200–₹2500—3x the local rate. No reuse, even if the elder sibling has a perfectly good one.
Real Story:
In 2023, a Hyderabad school mandated all-white "summer shoes" only from a specific vendor who sold them at ₹1800/pair. The same model was available for ₹650 in nearby markets. Parents were threatened that mismatched shoes would get their child “sent home.”
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2. Stationery Cartel: The Branding of Basics
How It Works:
Schools release a printed list with branded pens, notebooks, art kits. Local vendors are “authorized” and inflate prices. The same Camlin geometry box costing ₹60 in a wholesale shop is billed ₹150.
Real Story:
A parent in Chennai documented how a school’s “stationery kit” for Grade 4 cost ₹4600—bulk-purchased, poorly made, and stuffed with unnecessary items like oil pastels for non-art subjects.
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3. The Tuition Trap: When One School Isn’t Enough
How It Works:
Even top private schools push students to private tuition—often with their own teachers moonlighting unofficially. In urban areas like Mumbai, it's an open secret: pay the same teacher after school for “real” help.
Real Story:
In Thane, a CBSE school teacher told students, “You won’t understand this in class—come for tuition.” 60% of her class showed up at her ₹4000/month “coaching.”
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4. Digital Learning Loot: The New Goldmine
How It Works:
Post-pandemic, schools now force children into “smart classroom subscriptions” or “partner apps” with annual fees ranging from ₹3000 to ₹15,000. Often it's unused or parallel to textbooks.
Real Story:
A Bengaluru school tied up with a digital platform, charging every student ₹8500/year for app access. When parents protested that their kids weren’t using it, the school replied: “It’s for future-readiness.”
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5. Transport Syndicates: Unsafe, Unfair, Unregulated
How It Works:
Schools outsource buses to private players who charge ₹2000–₹5000/month for routes that auto drivers cover at half the cost. No standardization of safety, no GPS, no accountability.
Real Story:
In Delhi NCR, several schools were exposed in 2022 for “inspecting” their own buses. One child died in an accident—bus lacked even a helper. The contractor was the principal’s cousin.
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6. Medical Mandates: The Unholy Health Business
How It Works:
Some schools now demand medical check-ups from specific diagnostic chains. ₹1200–₹2500 per check-up, often unnecessary.
Real Story:
In Gujarat, a school partnered with a lab to test all students for “vitamin deficiencies”—without parent consultation. Children were prescribed supplements sold by the same lab’s pharmacy.
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7. The Admission Donation Racket: Buy Your Way In
How It Works:
Schools (especially pre-schools and “international” schools) charge ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakhs as “development fees” or “voluntary donations.” RTI queries expose that none of these are accounted transparently.
Real Story:
In 2021, a school in South Mumbai was caught demanding ₹3 lakh for Jr. KG admission. The receipt said: “Library Fund.” The school didn’t even have a functional library.
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8. The Book Scam: Curriculum for Sale
How It Works:
Even CBSE and ICSE schools force children to buy expensive “reference books” from partnered publishers, despite the prescribed NCERT texts being free and complete.
Real Story:
In Patna, a parent found that the school's mandatory “combo book set” included 3 books per subject—total ₹7200 for Grade 6. Half were never opened.
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9. The Counseling Trap: Mental Health for a Price
How It Works:
Schools outsource “wellness partners” or in-house counselors charging per session. ₹800–₹2500/session, sometimes without consent or transparency in reports.
Real Story:
A school in Pune partnered with a firm that “diagnosed” 14 children in one class with ADHD—based on a 15-minute group quiz. Parents were told to consult a psychiatrist the partner recommended.
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10. The Activity Bazaar: Fake Holistic Education
How It Works:
Karate. Coding. Chess. Vedic Math. All “compulsory.” Fee: ₹800–₹3000/month per activity. Mostly outsourced. Quality check? None.
Real Story:
In Coimbatore, a school advertised “robotics lab” in fee circulars. It turned out to be a desktop computer with a USB toy. Children clicked buttons. ₹1800/month charged.
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11. Parental Guilt and Peer Pressure: The Emotional Extortion
How It Works:
Schools and parent WhatsApp groups fuel insecurity—if your child doesn’t have that “English speaking online course” or the ₹5000 extra math book, you're a bad parent.
Real Story:
A father in Nagpur was told his son wasn’t “school ready” without a ₹6000 phonics class. The child was 3. The same school said, “Other parents are doing it.”
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12. Government Silence: The Complicit State
How It Works:
State boards are underfunded. Private boards run riot. No standard fee structure. No punishments for profiteering. “Self-regulation” is a joke.
Real Story:
In Telangana, the government announced fee regulation in 2019. It was stayed in High Court. Private schools continued charging 10–15% hikes every year. No rollbacks.
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13. The Food Scam: Midday Meals for Money
Real Story:
In Uttar Pradesh, a 2022 report showed that students were served roti with salt and rice with turmeric water. In Pune, a private school forced parents to subscribe to its “health meal” plan at ₹1300/month. The food was outsourced to a vendor who admitted using leftover grains.
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14. The Field Trip Fraud: Learning Disguised as Leisure
Real Story:
In a Bengaluru international school, parents were charged ₹2800 per student for a one-day water park trip. The park's group rate was ₹550. The school never showed breakup or invoices.
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15. The Tech Upgrade Lie: Smart Boards, Dumb Budgets
Real Story:
In a school in Bhopal, parents paid ₹4500/year for "smart classroom" upgrades. Six months later, the teacher used a chalkboard. The smart screen had stopped working. No refunds, no repairs.
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16. The Fake Olympiad Economy
How It Works:
Private companies approach schools offering “exclusive Olympiads” and assessments. Schools sign up, and students are pressured to enroll. Entry fee: ₹300–₹1500. Medals and certificates often pre-printed.
Real Story:
In 2022, a parent in Kerala found his son was given a “Silver Medal” for a math Olympiad he never wrote. The school insisted it was “motivational.” Later, the parent discovered 80% of the class received some medal.
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17. The Alumni Scam: Nostalgia as Income
How It Works:
Schools call on alumni to donate for “infrastructure” or scholarships, often using emotional pitches. The funds rarely go to students — they build auditoriums or repaint walls.
Real Story:
In Kolkata, a well-known school requested ₹10,000 per alumnus to “help struggling students post-COVID.” The donations went to air conditioning the principal’s chamber and installing vanity boards.
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18. The Orientation Day Drama
How It Works:
Schools stage grand “parent orientation” sessions at the beginning of the year, often charging ₹500–₹2000 per head in the name of "training kits" or "personality development materials." These are just printed handouts, motivational speeches, or promotional pitches by external vendors.
Real Story:
In Ahmedabad, parents were told to attend a ₹1500 mandatory orientation which included a “special parenting session.” It turned out to be a product demo for a memory-boosting powder brand.
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19. The Photography & Video Package Scam
How It Works:
Schools tie up with photography companies and force parents to buy annual packages of class photos, festival shoots, and video coverage. Parents must pre-pay ₹1000–₹5000. Photos are often low quality or never delivered.
Real Story:
In a Noida school, a parent paid ₹2200 for a “memories of the year” package. The DVD included just four blurry photographs and a 30-second clip of a morning prayer.
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20. The Exam Processing Fee Scam
How It Works:
Board-affiliated schools charge students “exam form processing” or “admin handling” fees (₹300–₹1000) per term, which are not mentioned in official board fee structures. These go straight to the school's account.
Real Story:
A CBSE school in Bhubaneswar charged ₹950 per student for “exam handling logistics.” Parents found that only ₹100 had been submitted to the board; the rest was unaccounted.
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21. The Insurance Add-On Racket
How It Works:
Schools quietly add “student safety insurance” to fee receipts. Parents are not consulted or given policy documents. Often these are group policies sold by relatives of trustees.
Real Story:
In a Ranchi private school, ₹375 was charged to all 1800 students for “accidental coverage.” Upon inquiry, the insurance company had only issued one master policy with no individual student names listed.
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22. The Diary Printing & Branding Game
How It Works:
Schools print customized “student diaries” and “handbooks” with motivational quotes, school logos, rules — and charge ₹250–₹600 for them. Often the printing is handled by relatives or staff-owned businesses.
Real Story:
In Jaipur, a school diary was found to be printed by the Director's wife's firm. Market rate: ₹42. Charged rate: ₹480. Pages were copied from a 2016 edition.
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23. The Compulsory Competition Circus
How It Works:
“Rangoli Day”, “Speech Fest”, “Dress Up As Freedom Fighter”, “Fancy Dress Competitions” — all require costumes, props, and registration fees (₹100–₹500). No real assessment or prize justification. Just a show.
Real Story:
A parent in Indore spent ₹2100 preparing for “National Science Day Dress-Up” after the school “highly encouraged” participation. Judges were internal staff, and every child got a “Special Mention” certificate.
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24. The Event Sponsorship Extortion
How It Works:
Parents are asked to “sponsor” portions of the Annual Day, Sports Day, or Exhibition — with informal pressure via PTA or class groups. ₹5000–₹25,000 per family, promised “recognition” rarely delivered.
Real Story:
In a Gurugram school, one parent paid ₹12,000 to sponsor a “Children's Cultural Segment.” His name was misspelled in a small footnote on the banner. No receipt was given.
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25. The Mock Test Monetization
How It Works:
For Classes 9–12, schools run multiple “pre-board” or “mock” tests, and each is billed separately: ₹200–₹1000 per exam cycle. These are often internal papers printed in-house.
Real Story:
In Surat, a school conducted four rounds of “prelim exams” and billed parents ₹3400 total. The question papers were copied word-for-word from a previous year’s online PDF.
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26. The ID Card/Badge Scam
How It Works:
Each child is issued a school ID, often with QR code or chip. Schools charge ₹300–₹800 for this — despite bulk production costing less than ₹30 per card.
Real Story:
A parent in Hyderabad was told a “new ID card system” would be introduced. Cost: ₹950. The vendor turned out to be a neighbor of the school's Admin Officer.
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27. The Library Fee Loot
How It Works:
Schools collect ₹300–₹1200 per student as “library fees” annually. Yet many schools lack functioning libraries or don’t allow students access. Books are rarely updated, and no audit is done.
Real Story:
In a school in Bareilly, the “library” was a locked room with 47 books — mostly 1990s novels and torn textbooks. The school collected ₹600 per student, every year, from over 1200 students.
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28. The PTA Fund Misuse
How It Works:
Parents are asked to contribute ₹500–₹3000 per year to the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) fund. The money is supposed to be used for student welfare. In reality, it often funds teacher lunches, furniture upgrades, or private events.
Real Story:
In a Chennai school, the PTA fund was used to buy a 55-inch smart TV and fridge for the staffroom. When questioned, the principal said, “It keeps teachers motivated.”
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29. The Classroom Maintenance Scam
How It Works:
Some schools charge ₹1000–₹3000/year for “classroom maintenance” — citing reasons like projector upkeep, repainting, or desk repairs. But these tasks are budgeted elsewhere or never done.
Real Story:
In a Thiruvananthapuram school, desks remained broken for three years while students paid ₹1800 annually for classroom maintenance. The vendor was a relative of the school manager.
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30. The Fake Scholarship Promise
How It Works:
Some private schools attract admissions by promising scholarships based on “entrance tests.” Most tests are eyewash — only token discounts are given, or scholarships are quietly withdrawn after first year.
Real Story:
In Jaipur, a girl was promised 50% fee reduction after topping an entrance test. Next year, the school told her parents the “policy changed.” No paperwork was ever shared.
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31. The Overpriced Extra Class Syndrome
How It Works:
For board classes or Olympiad prep, schools run “special sessions” after hours — ₹500–₹2000/month. These are often regular classes disguised as extras, just to extract more money.
Real Story:
A school in Nashik ran “Evening Science Enrichment” classes for ₹1800/month. Parents later discovered the teacher was simply finishing the unfinished syllabus from regular hours.
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32. The Branding and Bag Package Scam
How It Works:
Many schools force parents to buy custom school bags, bottles, or raincoats with the school logo. Prices: ₹700–₹3000. Quality is poor, and replacement is mandatory if anything goes missing.
Real Story:
In Bhilai, a school required all kids to use a ₹1450 bag sold only through one vendor. The stitching gave way within 3 months. Complaints were ignored.
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33. The EdTech Add-On Commission Scam
How It Works:
Schools tie up with EdTech platforms (e.g. coding, robotics, language) and push them during PTMs. The school earns 10–30% commission on every parent sign-up.
Real Story:
In Gurgaon, a school asked all Class 6–8 parents to “enroll in future-skilling” via a coding app. Cost: ₹6800. Later, an internal leak showed the school earned ₹1100 per enrolment.
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34. The Fake Survey Scam
How It Works:
Schools distribute “feedback forms” or “child development surveys” — which are data collection tools for marketing agencies or therapy startups. Parents unknowingly give away private information.
Real Story:
In a Nagpur school, a so-called “emotional intelligence survey” was circulated. Three weeks later, parents began receiving calls offering paid therapy plans for their kids.
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35. The Teacher Hiring Cover-Up
How It Works:
Some schools collect full fees but operate for weeks/months without qualified teachers, especially in science and math. Parents are not informed.
Real Story:
In a Jodhpur CBSE school, Class 10 had no physics teacher for 5 months in 2023. Students were told to “wait” or “join coaching.” The school still charged full academic fees.
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36. The Computer Lab Illusion
How It Works:
Schools charge ₹1000–₹3000/year as “IT lab fee.” In reality, many labs have outdated machines, no internet, or are locked all year.
Real Story:
In a Ranchi private school, the computer lab had 12 PCs for 800 students — 4 were non-functional. Students got 20 minutes of access every 2 weeks. Fee collected: ₹2400 per student.
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37. The Exam Re-Evaluation Racket
How It Works:
Some schools subtly encourage students to apply for re-evaluation or re-checking of internal or board-moderated exams, charging ₹300–₹1000 per subject. Results often remain unchanged, and it's used as a revenue tactic.
Real Story:
In a Navi Mumbai school, nearly 80% of Class 12 students were advised to opt for “internal re-checking.” Total revaluation fees collected: over ₹1.2 lakhs. Only 2 marks changed.
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38. The Birthday Celebration Package
How It Works:
Schools prohibit homemade treats and instead mandate pre-approved vendors for student birthdays. Packages range from ₹250–₹1000 per child — cake, caps, return gifts, etc.
Real Story:
A Kolkata school allowed birthday celebration only through their “partner bakery” at ₹850. A parent who brought homemade laddoos had it confiscated by staff.
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39. The Smart ID Integration Scam
How It Works:
Under the name of “safety,” schools implement smart IDs with RFID or GPS, charging ₹600–₹2000. Often these don’t function or aren’t used by staff.
Real Story:
In a school in Vadodara, smart cards were introduced with swipe tracking. Three months later, the system stopped working — but recharges for the cards were still being taken.
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40. The Annual Day Costume Monopoly
How It Works:
Schools assign “official vendors” for Annual Day costumes — parents must rent outfits from them for ₹500–₹2000 per item. Own arrangements not allowed.
Real Story:
In a Bengaluru school, a tribal dance costume (hand-stitched dhoti and beads) was rented for ₹1200. The same set was available locally for ₹350.
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41. The Class Group Photo Resale
How It Works:
Schools take annual class photos, and parents are told to “pre-order” copies at ₹150–₹500 each. Often blurry, unframed, and late — but mandatory.
Real Story:
A school in Lucknow delivered photos 6 months late, with misspelled names and poor lighting. Still, no refunds were offered.
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42. The Mock Interview/College Prep Scam
How It Works:
For higher secondary students, some schools offer “career counselling packages” or “mock interview training” for ₹2000–₹8000, claiming tie-ups with HR professionals. Often just internal staff reading scripted questions.
Real Story:
In Indore, a school charged ₹5200 for “IIT/IIM style interview prep.” The evaluator turned out to be the school librarian with no training.
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43. The Board Registration Timing Fraud
How It Works:
Schools delay board registration for students until extra fees are paid — e.g., previous dues, late fees, “discipline deposits.” Parents feel trapped.
Real Story:
A Noida CBSE school refused to register 6 students for Class 10 board exams unless their parents paid ₹3500 in “lab pending charges” from the previous year.
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44. The Computer/Tablet Mandatory Purchase Trap
How It Works:
Some schools tie up with hardware companies to “digitize learning.” They make it mandatory for students to purchase tablets or laptops — even if they already have one.
Real Story:
In Hyderabad, a school forced parents to buy a ₹24,000 EduTab, saying it was “linked to school’s digital system.” Parents later found out all materials were PDFs.
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45. The “School Diary Advertisement” Fraud
How It Works:
Schools solicit local businesses to pay for ads in school diaries or magazines, charging ₹2000–₹25,000 per page. The diary is then sold to parents at inflated prices.
Real Story:
A school in Ludhiana published a diary full of real estate ads and astrology consultants. Cost to print: ₹58. Sale price to parents: ₹420.
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46. The Uniform Change Every Year Scam
How It Works:
To sustain vendor relationships, some schools change uniform designs slightly every year — adding a stripe, shifting a badge, or changing tie color — so old ones become unusable.
Real Story:
A school in Ujjain shifted from “sky blue” to “peacock blue” shirts in 2023. Students with older uniforms were warned with “disciplinary notes” if they wore last year’s clothes.
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47. The Internship Certificate Scam
How It Works:
Some schools, especially for Classes 11–12, promise “mandatory internships” with certificate at ₹2000–₹7000. Students never attend any real program. A pre-printed certificate is handed out at year-end.
Real Story:
In a Mumbai international school, a Class 12 student received an “Internship Completion Certificate” from a “startup incubator” she never visited. Her father later found the certificate was issued by a shell company linked to the school trust.
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48. The Fake Student Exchange Program
How It Works:
Schools advertise international exchange opportunities — short virtual calls or essay-writing events are passed off as “foreign collaborations.” Parents are charged ₹3000–₹25,000 for “processing.”
Real Story:
A school in Kochi charged ₹8500 per student for an “Australia virtual exchange.” The program was a 30-minute group Zoom call with a school in Malaysia.
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49. The Science/Tech Fair Extortion
How It Works:
Participation in annual exhibitions is strongly “recommended.” Project kits must be purchased via school’s vendor: ₹1000–₹5000. Originality is not rewarded; presence is.
Real Story:
In a Delhi school, students were asked to present “innovative models.” 90% bought identical kits from the suggested shop. Judges were teachers from the same school.
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50. The Sports Academy Commission Scam
How It Works:
Schools tie up with cricket, football, or badminton academies, offering “priority admission” to enrolled students. Commissions of 20–40% are built into the student’s ₹10,000–₹50,000 fee.
Real Story:
In Nagpur, a parent paid ₹28,000 for a 3-month “elite coaching camp” tied to the school. It turned out to be group drills led by a PE teacher without certification.
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51. The School App Charges
How It Works:
Schools develop or outsource their own app for attendance, homework, fee payment, etc. Parents are charged ₹500–₹2500/year for “app subscription” without alternative options.
Real Story:
In a Jaipur CBSE school, app login stopped working for weeks. No homework updates were posted. Still, a ₹1350 “annual tech fee” was included in the receipt.
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52. The Learning Outcome Assessment Scam
How It Works:
Schools introduce “independent assessments” for ₹500–₹1000 — claiming to map learning outcomes. The assessments are outsourced to private testing firms that often share data with EdTech vendors.
Real Story:
In Lucknow, one school’s “LEAP” assessment was followed by a wave of personalized tuition service calls to parents. The test company had sold contact info.
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53. The Career Counsellor Package
How It Works:
Partnered counsellors offer “career path planning” in Grades 9–12 — packages range from ₹3000 to ₹12,000. Most use generic online tools or give templated advice.
Real Story:
A father in Pune paid ₹8500 for a two-session career counselling plan. The “recommendation” given to his daughter was to become a CA — which she’d already decided two years ago.
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54. The Hostel Rules Turned Scam
How It Works:
Boarding schools often charge for compulsory hostel kits: bedding, hygiene, shoes, etc. Cost: ₹5000–₹15,000. Items are overpriced, poor quality, or reused between batches.
Real Story:
In a Himachal Pradesh boarding school, students received stained blankets and thin mattresses. Parents were charged ₹9800 for the “welcome kit.”
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55. The Farewell Charges Scam
How It Works:
For Class 10/12 farewell parties, schools or student councils collect ₹1000–₹4000 per student. Parties are poorly organized or end up cancelled. No refunds.
Real Story:
A Class 12 student in Ahmedabad paid ₹2200 for a farewell function that was later “postponed indefinitely.” Snacks were distributed and ₹300 worth was spent.
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56. The Practice Booklet Monopoly
How It Works:
Schools force students to buy “practice booklets” for every subject — printed by tied-up vendors, even when NCERT provides free materials. Costs: ₹200–₹1200 per subject.
Real Story:
In Faridabad, Class 8 students were asked to buy six “practice sets” for ₹4800 total. Most had basic fill-in-the-blank worksheets available free online.
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57. The Lab Equipment Kit Scam
How It Works:
Schools charge ₹1000–₹3000 for science or computer “lab kits” in Classes 6–12, claiming each child needs their own tools. Often the kits are never used, or are reused across batches.
Real Story:
In a school in Patiala, students were charged ₹2100 each for a “chemistry lab kit.” It contained plastic test tubes and an expired litmus paper roll. Most items were never opened.
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58. The Graduation Robe Charges
How It Works:
During KG, Class 10 or Class 12 “graduation ceremonies,” schools charge ₹500–₹2000 for robes, caps, and photo ops — even for small children. Rentals are passed off as purchases.
Real Story:
In a Bengaluru pre-school, parents were billed ₹850 for a “graduation gown.” Later it was found the same gown had been used for at least 3 previous batches and returned after the event.
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59. The Annual Fest Entry/Participation Scam
How It Works:
Annual cultural or school fests include separate entry charges (₹200–₹1000) and additional fees to “participate” in competitions. Parents are told it's for “event materials.”
Real Story:
In Hyderabad, a school charged ₹450 as mandatory entry for a “Talent Festival.” The event was conducted during regular hours with no additional arrangements — essentially a normal school day in costume.
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60. The Social Work Certificate Fraud
How It Works:
Some schools require “community service hours” for students in higher grades. Instead of actual activity, students are charged ₹500–₹3000 to get certificates via NGO tie-ups with no real volunteering.
Real Story:
In Delhi, a Class 11 student got a “Social Responsibility Certificate” from an NGO she never visited. Parents were billed ₹1800 for “admin and verification.”
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61. The Language Lab & Foreign Language Fee Scam
How It Works:
Schools offer language electives (French, Sanskrit, German, Japanese) and charge extra fees ₹1500–₹5000 per year. Often these are handled by untrained teachers using outdated material.
Real Story:
In a school in Nashik, French was taught using photocopied notes from 2010. The teacher was a B.Sc. graduate who had done a 3-month crash course.
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62. The Club Membership Scam
How It Works:
Robotics Club, Eco Club, Readers’ Club, etc. — students are pushed into joining, with “compulsory participation fees” of ₹500–₹2000 per club per year. Most clubs meet 2–3 times and do nothing meaningful.
Real Story:
A parent in Indore paid ₹1100 for their child’s “Eco Club membership.” The only activity conducted that year was a recycled bottle competition judged by the class teacher.
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63. The Mid-Term Uniform Adjustment Scam
How It Works:
Schools randomly announce changes to socks, ties, or belts mid-year — forcing parents to re-buy accessories from designated vendors.
Real Story:
In a Bhopal school, the length of girls’ skirts was increased by 2 inches in September. Students with older ones were told to “not attend school until corrected.” New skirts cost ₹950.
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64. The Fake External Award Scam
How It Works:
Schools nominate students for “national student excellence awards” conducted by third-party private agencies. Nomination = automatic win. Parents are then asked to pay ₹1000–₹4000 for medals, certificates, or ceremonies.
Real Story:
In a Chandigarh school, 43 students received “All India Student Scholar 2023” medals — even those who had failed subjects. Each parent had paid ₹2800 for the “prestigious honor.”
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65. The Festival Decoration Fund Scam
How It Works:
Schools collect ₹100–₹500 per child during Diwali, Christmas, Republic Day, etc. for decoration and celebrations. Often no transparency is given. Decorations are done by teachers or recycled.
Real Story:
In a school in Ahmedabad, ₹400 was collected for “Independence Day celebration.” Students stood for flag hoisting, sang songs, and were given a ₹1 paper flag.
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66. The Compulsory Yoga/Health Coach Fee
How It Works:
Schools introduce “wellness” or “yoga periods” taught by external instructors. ₹800–₹3000 per year is added to fees without parental consultation. Many instructors are uncertified.
Real Story:
In Cochin, a school charged ₹2700 for a visiting “Yoga Guru.” He came only twice that year. The school still billed the full year under “holistic health learning.”
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67. The Fee Receipt Manipulation Scam
How It Works:
Schools often issue vague or partial fee receipts without a breakdown — allowing them to shuffle amounts across “voluntary,” “miscellaneous,” or “development” heads and avoid tax scrutiny.
Real Story:
In a school in Bhubaneswar, one parent asked for a detailed fee breakup. The school refused, saying, “We give only consolidated receipts.” Later, RTI revealed that “voluntary donation” was falsely shown as a “computer fee.”
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68. The Annual Planner Scam
How It Works:
Parents are charged ₹300–₹1000 for an “academic planner” — a printed calendar of holidays, quotes, and reminders. It’s reused each year with minor changes and rebranded.
Real Story:
In Nagpur, the exact same planner was used two years in a row — only the front cover was updated. A printing contractor confirmed it was billed as a new order to the school both times.
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69. The Staff Gratification Fund
How It Works:
For Teachers’ Day, New Year, or Diwali, class parents are “requested” to pool money (₹100–₹1000 per child) for gifts to staff. Often orchestrated by school admin behind the scenes.
Real Story:
In a Noida school, each class was told to collect ₹8000 for Teachers’ Day. When one parent objected, she was removed from the class WhatsApp group by the PTA rep.
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70. The Eco-Friendly Initiative Scam
How It Works:
Under the name of “green schools” or “sustainable campus,” schools charge ₹500–₹2000 for tree plantation drives, reusable kits, or solar fees — with little proof of execution.
Real Story:
In a Jaipur school, ₹650 per student was collected for “reusable water bottle drives.” The bottles never arrived. School claimed the supplier backed out — no refund issued.
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71. The Class Group Admin Control Scam
How It Works:
Schools or PTA members act as unofficial gatekeepers on WhatsApp groups. They delete dissenters, silence questions, and enforce silent compliance around fees, events, and vendor rules.
Real Story:
A parent in Hyderabad raised a question about uniform vendor monopoly. Within a day, she was removed from the parent group and got a call from the principal accusing her of “misguiding others.”
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72. The Career Fest Commercial Trap
How It Works:
Schools conduct “Career Fests” and charge stall fees (₹300–₹2000 per student group) while inviting companies or colleges who also pay for branding. Students unknowingly become marketing targets.
Real Story:
In Surat, a career fest was presented as a student-led exhibition. In reality, it was a sponsored promo event for two private universities. Students paid ₹1200 per stall.
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73. The Festival Dress Code Scam
How It Works:
For festivals like Janmashtami, Gandhi Jayanti, etc., schools announce sudden “dress-up day” with costumes mandated from preferred shops. Non-participants are discouraged or subtly humiliated.
Real Story:
In a Delhi school, a Class 1 boy was sent to sit in the last row for not wearing a “Krishna dress.” His mother had made a costume at home, but the school insisted on buying from “official supplier.”
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74. The “Skill Certification” Scam
How It Works:
Schools sell add-on courses (Abacus, coding, AI, cursive writing) bundled with “certificates” from fake or unaccredited organizations — for ₹1000–₹5000 each.
Real Story:
A school in Chennai ran a ₹2800 “AI for Kids” program for Class 5–7 students. The certificate was issued by a non-existent startup that didn’t even have a website.
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75. The Audio-Visual Room Fee Scam
How It Works:
Many schools charge an “AV Room Fee” or “multimedia fee” of ₹1000–₹2500 per child annually, even when the AV rooms are locked or used only for rare annual-day rehearsals.
Real Story:
In a Guntur school, students said they’d entered the AV room only once that year — to watch a 10-minute cartoon. ₹1800 was charged under “multimedia facility.”
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76. The Fake Olympiad Preparation Class Scam
How It Works:
Schools advertise “free” Olympiad registration, then mandate “training classes” after school — ₹800–₹2000/month. Many of these classes are just revision of regular content.
Real Story:
In a Chandigarh school, students were enrolled into “Math Olympiad Prep Classes.” The syllabus was the same NCERT Grade 8 content, but with a ₹1600 monthly fee attached.
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77. The Textbook Resale Manipulation Scam
How It Works:
Schools discourage resale or reuse of previous year’s textbooks by making minor changes: shifting chapters, adding “school-specific” inserts, or stamping books “Not for resale.”
Real Story:
In a Raipur CBSE school, parents were told not to use older siblings’ books because “the map section has changed.” A side-by-side comparison revealed only the school name was watermarked on a blank page.
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78. The Student Council Election Fraud
How It Works:
Student leadership positions are announced as “democratic elections,” but winners are pre-decided based on parent donations, influence, or internal staff decisions. Campaign materials are charged to students.
Real Story:
In Pune, a student campaigned for “Head Girl,” printing posters and badges (₹850). A teacher revealed afterward that the principal had already chosen the winner — her friend’s daughter.
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79. The Fake Disaster Relief Drive
How It Works:
Schools ask students to contribute towards flood, drought, or earthquake relief. ₹10–₹100 per head is collected — often no accountability, no transparency, and no actual donations.
Real Story:
In Tamil Nadu, after the 2023 floods, a private school collected ₹85,000 from students “to donate to the CM Relief Fund.” RTI request showed no such transfer was made.
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80. The Learning Analytics Surveillance Scam
How It Works:
Schools claim to use “AI learning platforms” that track performance, behaviour, etc. Students are told their progress is being “monitored.” In truth, the platforms are glorified dashboards sold with high commissions.
Real Story:
In a Delhi NCR school, students were logged into an “adaptive AI system” that gave random progress graphs. A parent techie found the backend was a Google Sheet feeding random percentages.
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81. The Daily Homework SMS/Portal Charges
How It Works:
Some schools charge ₹500–₹1200/year for sending daily homework updates via SMS or app. Teachers often don’t update, or use free services like WhatsApp anyway.
Real Story:
In Patna, parents were billed ₹750/year for daily homework SMS. 80% of the days, the homework was “To be told in class.”
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82. The “Mandatory Excursion” Scam
How It Works:
Day trips to nearby museums, dams, zoos — termed as “academic excursions.” Buses are overcharged (₹800–₹2000 per child), attendance is forced, and no educational supervision is present.
Real Story:
A school in Nashik billed ₹1300 for a “science-based nature park visit.” It turned out to be a half-day picnic at a public garden with one PE teacher and chips.
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83. The “One Time Security Deposit” Black Hole
How It Works:
Parents pay ₹10,000–₹50,000 as “refundable security deposit” at time of admission. Refund is delayed for years, or denied for vague reasons like “late exit,” “wear & tear,” or “adjusted in final bills.”
Real Story:
In a Bengaluru school, 47 parents filed a joint complaint when they were denied their ₹25,000 security refund. The school claimed they had “used library books without return.”
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84. The Misleading Rankings Scam
How It Works:
Schools boast of being “Top 10 in State” or “No. 1 Emerging School” based on awards they paid for — via edu-rating agencies selling trophies and coverage for ₹20,000–₹2 lakhs.
Real Story:
A school in Indore displayed a “Top School Award” received at a 5-star hotel event. Investigation revealed that 45 other schools received the same title on the same day.
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85. The Remedial Class Blackmail
How It Works:
Students who underperform are made to attend “remedial classes” — charged extra (₹1000–₹3000/month). If parents resist, school says the child may “not be promoted.”
Real Story:
In a Chennai school, a Class 4 child got 48% in Maths. Parents were told “he can’t continue without special help.” They paid ₹1800/month for a class that reviewed the same chapter again.
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86. The Compulsory Yearbook Scam
How It Works:
Schools publish glossy “Yearbooks” filled with photos, poems, and ads — often selling them for ₹600–₹2000 each. Parents are told it is a “legacy document” and must be bought.
Real Story:
In a school in Ahmedabad, the yearbook contained no photos of half the students, dozens of grammar errors, and 11 full pages of paid real estate ads.
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87. The Medical Check-Up Scam
How It Works:
Schools tie up with local clinics or labs to conduct “mandatory annual health check-ups,” charging ₹500–₹1500 per student. Reports are generic, copy-pasted, and sometimes not delivered at all.
Real Story:
In a school in Nagpur, 800 students were checked in one day by 2 interns. Everyone received a printed form saying “Fit for school activity.” Parents paid ₹900 each.
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88. The Art/Craft Material Kit Scam
How It Works:
Students are forced to buy art kits or craft materials from the school’s chosen vendor — ₹600–₹1500. Quality is poor, and kits are underused.
Real Story:
In a Jaipur school, children used only 2 pages from a 50-page drawing book costing ₹980. The rest was left blank and “carried forward” next year — with a fresh fee.
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89. The Transportation Fee Manipulation
How It Works:
Schools charge full-year transport fees (₹15,000–₹40,000) upfront — even if child joins late or leaves early. Refunds are denied, and fee is often more than private bus market rate.
Real Story:
A Mumbai parent withdrew his child in July. He had paid ₹31,500 for the year’s transport. Refund denied. The bus operator privately admitted getting only ₹16,000 per student.
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90. The Spoken English Training Scam
How It Works:
Many schools in semi-urban India push paid “spoken English” courses — taught by underqualified teachers with poor grammar. Cost: ₹1000–₹3000 per student.
Real Story:
In a Bihar school, the “trainer” made repeated spelling mistakes on the blackboard. Her highest qualification: a 6-month spoken English certificate course.
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91. The Special Assembly Day Fees
How It Works:
On days like Yoga Day, Environment Day, Constitution Day — schools conduct “special assemblies” and charge ₹100–₹500 for “refreshments and materials.” Often nothing is served or distributed.
Real Story:
In a school in Ranchi, students were charged ₹220 for “Republic Day celebration kits.” They stood in the sun for 45 minutes and got a paper badge.
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92. The Subject Change Fee
How It Works:
In higher classes (9–12), schools charge ₹1000–₹5000 for allowing a subject change — even though it's a right until a fixed date by board rules.
Real Story:
A CBSE school in Delhi charged ₹2800 to switch from Biology to Computer Science. The board form hadn’t even been submitted yet.
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93. The Fake Remedial Counselling Scam
How It Works:
Children marked as “underachievers” are referred to in-house counsellors or tied-up therapists — often charging ₹500–₹1500 per session, even without valid psychological assessments.
Real Story:
In Bengaluru, a parent was asked to take their “slow-learning” child to the school's partnered psychologist. She was charged ₹1250 for a 15-minute conversation that ended in “he needs long-term therapy.”
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94. The Uniform Stitching Monopoly
How It Works:
Some schools allow only one approved tailor to stitch uniforms, even when parents can source the same cloth. Tailors charge 2–3× market rate.
Real Story:
In a school in Kolhapur, a stitched kurta-pyjama set cost ₹1100 — double the price quoted by open-market tailors. But school insisted “only official cut allowed.”
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95. The Festival Donation Shaming
How It Works:
During festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi or Saraswati Puja, students are “invited” to contribute ₹50–₹200. Those who don’t pay are subtly identified or skipped in rituals.
Real Story:
In a school in Odisha, a student’s name was not included in the “puja blessings” list because his family had not paid the ₹100 “optional” contribution.
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96. The School Picnic Scam
How It Works:
Annual picnics to local parks or resorts cost ₹800–₹2500. In reality, food is outsourced cheaply, transportation is bare minimum, and safety is lax.
Real Story:
In a school near Indore, students were charged ₹1800 for a resort picnic. They were packed into 3 old buses with no first-aid kit and given chips, pulav, and Frooti.
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97. The Festive Day Forced Shopping
How It Works:
For events like “Diya decoration,” “Raksha Bandhan,” “Mother’s Day Gift” — students are told to buy pre-listed items from partner stores.
Real Story:
A school in Surat asked all students to buy a ₹120 “Mother’s Day Gift Kit” from a local shop owned by the school trustee’s brother. Alternative gifts weren’t allowed.
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98. The Optional Olympiad Entry Scam
How It Works:
National/International Olympiads (Maths, Science, English, GK) are optional, but schools push participation for all — charging ₹200–₹500 per subject. No feedback, no use, just a printed certificate.
Real Story:
In a Hyderabad school, one child was entered in 5 Olympiads without consent. Parents paid ₹1700 and got 5 photocopied participation sheets six months later.
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99. The Parent-Volunteer Exploitation Scam
How It Works:
Schools invite parents as “volunteers” for field trips, exam invigilation, or class events — then bill them for food, transport, and materials. Their labor goes unpaid.
Real Story:
A parent in Mysuru was invited to help manage a sports day. She spent 6 hours in the sun and then was billed ₹450 for “volunteer lunch and ID card.”
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100. The Building Fund Misuse Scam
How It Works:
One-time or annual “infrastructure fund” of ₹2000–₹10,000 is collected citing campus expansion, digital classrooms, new toilets. No audit, no update. Funds disappear.
Real Story:
In a Kolkata school, ₹5000 was charged per student for “solar classroom upgrade.” Three years later, parents found no panels, and classrooms still used 1990s tube lights.
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Final Thoughts: The Child as a Commodity
This isn’t about education. It’s a marketplace where your child is the product, the parent is the customer, and the school is the broker. And every surrounding industry—from edtech startups to tailor shops—is sucking profit from this emotional investment.
No politician talks about it. No bureaucrat fixes it. Because everyone benefits. Except the child.
