Introduction

Education forms the bedrock of social and economic advancement. For India’s ambitious goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047, establishing a strong, equitable, and effective school education system is vital. However, the Comprehensive Modular Survey (CMS) on Education 2025 reveals troubling patterns within India’s schooling landscape.

Key Insights from CMS 2025 on Education

• Widespread Dependence on Private Coaching: About 27% of school-going children across India attend private coaching classes. Urban areas report a higher rate (30.7%) compared to rural areas (25.5%). At the senior secondary level (Classes 11 and 12), 37% of students rely on coaching, primarily driven by board exams and competitive tests such as JEE and NEET.
• Coaching Expenses: Urban families spend approximately ₹4,000 annually on coaching. Although rural households spend less overall, costs surge to around ₹10,000 for higher secondary students.
• Declining Enrolment in Government Schools: Enrolment in government schools has dropped significantly from 74% in the 1970s to 51–56% in 2025. Parents increasingly favour private schools despite their higher average fees (₹25,000 per year versus ₹2,863 in government schools).
• Mental Health and Stress: Students face demanding schedules involving school, coaching, and homework, resulting in intense pressure. High-stress coaching hubs like Kota, Rajasthan, have witnessed tragic student suicides, igniting public concern over mental health.
• Governance and Oversight Deficits: Regulatory supervision of coaching centers remains weak, leading to unchecked proliferation of unregulated institutions. State-run schools struggle with issues like poor infrastructure, inadequate teacher quality, and subpar learning outcomes, leading to erosion of public trust.

Analysis of Core Issues

• Emergence of a Parallel Education System: The surge in private coaching reflects a parallel shadow education sector, fueled by perceptions of inadequacies in mainstream schooling. Data from the National Sample Survey (2017–18) showed that nearly 37% of students in Classes 11–12 attended coaching, indicating a persistent trend.
• Growing Educational Inequity: Wealthier families disproportionately access private coaching, exacerbating educational disparities. According to NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index 2023, rural students face learning disadvantages despite paying relatively high tuition fees.
• Eroding Confidence in Government Schools: Problems such as teacher absenteeism, outdated pedagogy, insufficient digital tools, and poor infrastructure persist. Exceptions like Kerala and Delhi demonstrate that focused investment in infrastructure, teacher training, and accountability can revitalize public education.
• Policy Shortcomings: The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasizes reducing rote learning and promoting holistic, competency-based education. However, implementation remains patchy, and competitive exams continue to encourage rote-based coaching. Draft Model Guidelines for Regulating Coaching Centres (2022) set standards on infrastructure, teacher qualifications, fees, and counseling, but enforcement remains weak.

Lessons from International Practices

• Finland excels in OECD’s PISA assessments without heavy reliance on coaching.
• UK schools offer after-school programs blending academics, arts, and sports.
• China banned for-profit tutoring in core subjects in 2021 to ease family burdens.
• Singapore tackled tuition culture through government-led reforms like “Teach Less, Learn More” and revamped exams to emphasize understanding over memorization.

Recommendations for the Way Forward

·       Strengthening Public Schools: Increase investments in infrastructure, digital classrooms, and teacher capacity-building. Scale successful initiatives such as Delhi’s “Happiness Curriculum” and Kerala’s Public Education Rejuvenation Mission nationwide.

·       Exam System Reforms: Shift focus from high-stakes board and competitive exams toward continuous comprehensive evaluation, critical thinking, and multidisciplinary learning as outlined in NEP 2020.

·       Regulation of Coaching Institutions: Implement transparent fee structures, enforce teacher qualifications, regulate coaching hours, and provide mental health counseling per Ministry of Education guidelines. Establish grievance redressal mechanisms for students and parents.

·       Promoting Equity and Affordability: Expand scholarships, direct benefit transfers, and income-linked vouchers to alleviate financial burdens on disadvantaged families. Strengthen free digital learning platforms such as DIKSHA and SWAYAM as accessible alternatives to private coaching.

·       Addressing Mental Health: Integrate counseling services into schools and coaching centers. Collaborate with the National Mental Health Programme to provide stress management workshops and peer-support initiatives.

·       Engaging Communities and Parents: Raise awareness among parents about the downsides of excessive coaching and the importance of balanced development including sports, arts, and life skills. Empower School Management Committees (SMCs) under the Right to Education Act to enhance school governance.

·       Harnessing Technology: Promote AI-driven personalized learning tools to complement classroom teaching and reduce reliance on expensive coaching. Support EdTech startups under initiatives like Digital India and Startup India, while safeguarding data privacy and ensuring inclusivity.

Conclusion

CMS 2025 uncovers a paradox: while private coaching sees rising investment, trust in the formal school system is declining. This duality risks deepening inequality, worsening mental health challenges, and entrenching a costly shadow education system. To realize the goal of quality education for all by 2047, India must embrace not only increased funding but a transformative shift toward inclusive, holistic, and student-centered education.