Surat Parents Queue Overnight for Government School Admission

Surat | Gujarat —- In a striking sign of changing educational priorities, hundreds of parents in Surat are spending sleepless nights outside a government school just to secure admission forms for their children. The half-kilometre-long queue outside Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Primary School in Utran has turned into a powerful symbol of rising trust in public education.

From as early as 5 am, parents gather at the school gates, placing boots and slippers in line to secure their turn for tokens. The unusual scene resembles crowds outside major temples or prestigious private institutions—except this time, the rush is for a government school.

The atmosphere outside the campus has been described as “fair-like,” with families waiting patiently for hours. Many parents fear missing the token window could mean losing a chance at what they now believe is one of the city’s best educational opportunities.

Principal Chetan Hirpara explained the surge in demand, saying the school’s focus goes far beyond academic scores. “Following the National Education Policy, we ensure children grow not just in marks but in life skills. Our students participate in sports, music and chess. This year alone, 1,500 children took part in chess activities. Parents are seeing this holistic development and responding with trust,” he said.

The numbers underline the scale of the rush. On the first day of registration, 901 students applied. On the second day, another 600 to 700 registrations were recorded. With two days still remaining, the total registrations have already crossed 1,500. However, the school has capacity to admit only around 400 new students this year. Due to the overwhelming response, admissions will now be finalised through a transparent lottery system.

For many families, the shift toward government schools is driven by rising private school fees. Ravi Vasoya, who stood in the queue since early morning, shared his concerns. “I want to admit my child to Class 3. We currently pay between ₹16,000 and ₹20,000 in private school fees. But everything we hear about this school is even better. Last year we missed out, so this year we came early to give our child a better future.”

Another parent, Janvi Amitbhai Patel, echoed similar sentiments. “I want to admit one child in Class 1 and another in Class 3. We pay ₹18,000 in private school fees, which is becoming difficult. Children of our relatives study here and their progress convinced us. The teachers and activities here are truly impressive,” she said.

The shift signals a deeper transformation in Surat’s education landscape. With smart classrooms, experienced teachers, sports infrastructure and extracurricular opportunities, government schools are increasingly competing with private institutions.

Education experts say the trend could become a turning point for public schooling in Gujarat. Parents from middle- and lower-income groups are now openly choosing government schools, calling them a financial and academic blessing.