UPSC Editorial Analysis: The Rise of Private Coaching and the State of School Education in India
Kartavya Desk Staff
*General Studies-2; Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.*
Introduction
• Education is the foundation of social and economic progress. For India, which envisions becoming a Viksit Bharat @2047, a robust, equitable, and efficient school education system is crucial.
• However, the Comprehensive Modular Survey (CMS) on Education, 2025 has revealed concerning trends in India’s schooling ecosystem.
Key Findings of CMS 2025 on Education
• Prevalence of Coaching 27% of school-going children across India take private coaching. Urban areas: 30.7%; Rural areas: 25.5%. Senior secondary (Classes 11–12): 37% of students rely on coaching, largely due to board exams and competitive entrance tests like JEE and NEET.
• 27% of school-going children across India take private coaching.
• Urban areas: 30.7%; Rural areas: 25.5%.
• Senior secondary (Classes 11–12): 37% of students rely on coaching, largely due to board exams and competitive entrance tests like JEE and NEET.
• Expenditure on Coaching Urban households spend around ₹4,000 per year on coaching. In rural areas, average spending is lower, but rises sharply to around ₹10,000 for higher-secondary students.
• Urban households spend around ₹4,000 per year on coaching.
• In rural areas, average spending is lower, but rises sharply to around ₹10,000 for higher-secondary students.
• Decline in Government School Enrolment Enrolment in government schools has fallen from 74% in the 1970s to 51–56% in 2025. Parents increasingly prefer private schools despite the higher average cost (₹25,000 per year, compared to ₹2,863 in government schools).
• Enrolment in government schools has fallen from 74% in the 1970s to 51–56% in 2025.
• Parents increasingly prefer private schools despite the higher average cost (₹25,000 per year, compared to ₹2,863 in government schools).
• Stress and Mental Health Concerns Students attend school, then additional coaching, and finally spend time on homework — creating a punishing daily schedule. High-pressure coaching hubs (e.g., Kota, Rajasthan) have witnessed cases of student suicides, sparking debates on mental health.
• Students attend school, then additional coaching, and finally spend time on homework — creating a punishing daily schedule.
• High-pressure coaching hubs (e.g., Kota, Rajasthan) have witnessed cases of student suicides, sparking debates on mental health.
• Governance Gap Regulatory oversight of coaching centres remains weak, allowing mushrooming of institutions with little accountability. State-run schools, though affordable, have failed to retain trust due to issues of infrastructure, quality of teachers, and learning outcomes.
• Regulatory oversight of coaching centres remains weak, allowing mushrooming of institutions with little accountability.
• State-run schools, though affordable, have failed to retain trust due to issues of infrastructure, quality of teachers, and learning outcomes.
Analysis of Key Issues
• Growth of a Parallel Education System
• The rise of private coaching has created a shadow education economy that thrives due to the perception of inadequacy in mainstream schools. According to the National Sample Survey (NSS) 2017–18, nearly 37% of students in Classes 11–12 were enrolled in private coaching even then — showing a persistent long-term trend.
• The rise of private coaching has created a shadow education economy that thrives due to the perception of inadequacy in mainstream schools.
• According to the National Sample Survey (NSS) 2017–18, nearly 37% of students in Classes 11–12 were enrolled in private coaching even then — showing a persistent long-term trend.
• Inequity in Education
• Children from wealthier households disproportionately access private coaching, leading to widening educational inequalities. According to NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index 2023, learning outcomes remain unequal across states, with rural students facing a disadvantage despite paying relatively high tuition costs.
• Children from wealthier households disproportionately access private coaching, leading to widening educational inequalities.
• According to NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index 2023, learning outcomes remain unequal across states, with rural students facing a disadvantage despite paying relatively high tuition costs.
• Declining Trust in Government Schools
• Issues include teacher absenteeism, poor infrastructure, lack of digital learning tools, outdated pedagogy, and inadequate teacher training. However, exceptions like Kerala and Delhi demonstrate that investment in infrastructure, teacher capacity, and accountability mechanisms can revive public education.
• Issues include teacher absenteeism, poor infrastructure, lack of digital learning tools, outdated pedagogy, and inadequate teacher training.
• However, exceptions like Kerala and Delhi demonstrate that investment in infrastructure, teacher capacity, and accountability mechanisms can revive public education.
• Policy Concerns and Gaps
• National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 envisions reducing dependence on rote learning by promoting competency-based, holistic education. Yet, implementation remains uneven, and competitive exams continue to drive rote-based coaching. A draft Model Guidelines for Regulating Coaching Centres (Ministry of Education, 2022) proposed standards on infrastructure, teacher qualifications, fees, and counseling — but enforcement remains weak across states.
• National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 envisions reducing dependence on rote learning by promoting competency-based, holistic education.
• Yet, implementation remains uneven, and competitive exams continue to drive rote-based coaching.
• A draft Model Guidelines for Regulating Coaching Centres (Ministry of Education, 2022) proposed standards on infrastructure, teacher qualifications, fees, and counseling — but enforcement remains weak across states.
International Best Practices
• Finland has consistently ranked high in OECD’s PISA surveys without widespread dependence on coaching.
• UK schools run after-school clubs offering academic help, arts, and sports.
• In 2021, China banned for-profit tutoring in core subjects (math, science, English) to reduce burden on families.
• Singapore faced heavy tuition culture, but government interventions shifted the focus and Introduced “Teach Less, Learn More” (TLLM) initiative and reformed exams to test application of concepts rather than rote learning.
Way Forward
• Strengthening Government Schools Invest in infrastructure, digital classrooms, and teacher capacity-building. Scale successful models such as Delhi’s “Happiness Curriculum” and Kerala’s Public Education Rejuvenation Mission nationwide.
• Invest in infrastructure, digital classrooms, and teacher capacity-building.
• Scale successful models such as Delhi’s “Happiness Curriculum” and Kerala’s Public Education Rejuvenation Mission nationwide.
• Reforms in Examination System Reduce overemphasis on board exam scores and single-entry competitive exams. Encourage continuous and comprehensive evaluation (CCE), critical thinking, and multidisciplinary approaches as suggested in NEP 2020.
• Reduce overemphasis on board exam scores and single-entry competitive exams.
• Encourage continuous and comprehensive evaluation (CCE), critical thinking, and multidisciplinary approaches as suggested in NEP 2020.
• Regulation of Coaching Centres Enforce transparent fee structures, qualified teachers, standardised hours, and mental health counseling as per the Education Ministry’s draft guidelines. Create grievance redressal mechanisms for students and parents.
• Enforce transparent fee structures, qualified teachers, standardised hours, and mental health counseling as per the Education Ministry’s draft guidelines.
• Create grievance redressal mechanisms for students and parents.
• Equity and Affordability Expand scholarships, direct benefit transfers (DBT), and income-linked vouchers to reduce financial burden on poor households. Strengthen digital learning platforms (like DIKSHA and SWAYAM) to provide free alternatives to coaching.
• Expand scholarships, direct benefit transfers (DBT), and income-linked vouchers to reduce financial burden on poor households.
• Strengthen digital learning platforms (like DIKSHA and SWAYAM) to provide free alternatives to coaching.
• Mental Health Support Implement counseling services in schools and coaching hubs. Collaborate with the National Mental Health Programme (MoHFW) to provide stress-management workshops and peer-support groups.
• Implement counseling services in schools and coaching hubs.
• Collaborate with the National Mental Health Programme (MoHFW) to provide stress-management workshops and peer-support groups.
• Community and Parental Engagement Sensitize parents about the risks of excessive coaching and importance of balanced development including sports, arts, and life skills. Strengthen School Management Committees (SMCs) under the Right to Education Act (2009).
• Sensitize parents about the risks of excessive coaching and importance of balanced development including sports, arts, and life skills.
• Strengthen School Management Committees (SMCs) under the Right to Education Act (2009).
• Leveraging Technology Use AI-driven personalized learning platforms to complement classroom education and reduce overreliance on costly private coaching. Encourage EdTech startups under Digital India and Startup India, while ensuring data privacy and accessibility for all socio-economic groups.
• Use AI-driven personalized learning platforms to complement classroom education and reduce overreliance on costly private coaching.
• Encourage EdTech startups under Digital India and Startup India, while ensuring data privacy and accessibility for all socio-economic groups.
Conclusion
• The findings of CMS 2025 highlight a paradox: while parents are investing heavily in private coaching, their trust in the formal school system is weakening. This trend risks deepening inequalities, exacerbating mental health issues, and creating a costly parallel system.
• Achieving the vision of quality education for all by 2047 requires not just financial investment but also a paradigm shift from rote learning to holistic, inclusive, and student-centric education.
Critically examine the reasons behind the growing reliance on private coaching in India. What challenges does this pose for the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020? (250 Words)