BENGALURU — Summer holidays bring an undeniable wave of joy to children across the city. For them, it’s the season of late wake‑ups, carefree afternoons, and the sweet relief of escaping early‑morning alarms. But while students celebrate, a very different story is unfolding in the homes of their parents.
Take Himani (name changed for this article), a student of one of Bengaluru’s most reputed schools. After two intense weeks of exams — and months of preparation leading up to them — she walks out of her school gates beaming. Her biggest battle over the last year was simply enduring the 7 AM routine in the sweltering 25‑degree morning heat, wrapped in a stiff school uniform that “feels like a gunny bag,” as she describes it.
Now, for the next two months, there will be no bell ringing, no assignments due, and no race to the school van. For Himani, it’s bliss.
But for parents? Not quite.
Despite the long stretch of holidays, the financial obligations remain firmly intact. Parents are instructed to continue paying school fees — and even private van or transportation charges — for months during which their children will not be stepping inside a classroom.
Schools insist the policies are standard:
Parents must clear the fees, regardless of whether classes are functioning. Transport vendors echo the same stance, claiming fees must be paid “to retain the seat.”
This has triggered a wave of questions from frustrated families:

Is there truly a rule mandating fee payment during holidays?
Why should parents pay transport or van charges for months when the service is not even used?
What additional benefit or learning is provided during this period?
Shouldn’t there be clearer guidelines or regulations from the authorities?

With no classes, no activities, and no educational services delivered during these months, many parents are left wondering whether this long‑standing practice is justified — or simply an unquestioned norm that needs urgent review.
Where does the government stand?
This dilemma raises a larger policy question:
Does the Government of India, or Karnataka’s Education Department, have visibility into these recurring holiday‑season fees?
Families are now seeking clarity from the Education Ministry, hoping for guidelines that ensure fairness and transparency. While children enjoy the warmth of summer, parents are feeling the heat — not from the sun, but from the pressure on their wallets.
The bigger question: Can this financial heatwave be eased?
As Bengaluru gears up for another season of school closures, the debate intensifies. Should parents shoulder costs for services that remain unused? Or is it time for a systemic rethink to protect families from unnecessary financial strain?
One thing is clear — for thousands of parents across the city, this isn’t just a summer break.
It’s a summer burden.