Hyderabad: As concerns mount over rising prices following GST changes on textbooks and notebooks, fresh data from the Centre has revealed the heavy financial burden borne by school students in Telangana.According to figures obtained by TOI, students in the state spend an average of ₹3,000 on books and stationery, the second highest in the country after Punjab. A comprehensive survey by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation shows Punjab leading with an average spend of ₹3,326 per student, followed by Telangana (₹3,000), Haryana (₹2,901) and Andhra Pradesh (₹2,823).The survey further indicates that costs escalate sharply in higher secondary education in Telangana, where students typically spend around ₹35,000. The burden is compounded by steep school fees, especially in private institutions that charge premium rates for quality education. Breaking down the overall expenditure, students in Telangana spend on average: ₹24,633 on course fees, ₹4,976 on transportation, ₹2,031 on uniforms, and ₹1,261 on miscellaneous items.These add up to ₹21,652 in additional expenses, apart from books and stationery, underscoring the significant investment families must make to educate their children.
