Coaching Is Replacing Schools, Burdening Students

Recently, concerns over the growing dominance of coaching institutes and the parallel rise of “dummy schools” have been acknowledged at the policy level. The Ministry of Education has constituted a high-level committee to examine the expanding influence of coaching centres and their impact on formal schooling. The panel, which met in New Delhi, identified a major disconnect between school education and competitive entrance examinations as a key reason for students’ increasing dependence on coaching institutes.

Parents want their children to receive the best possible education to build successful careers. At the same time, children aspire to gain admission to the best available colleges after school. This growing emphasis on “the best education” has led to the expanding influence of coaching institutes. However, the rapid expansion of coaching culture has done more harm to children than good.
Coaching institutes primarily prepare students for competitive entrance examinations such as CLAT, NEET, and JEE. These exams demand in-depth preparation in specific subjects and focus heavily on exam-oriented techniques. As a result, the syllabus followed in schools and that of coaching institutes is neither integrated nor aligned; instead, the two often differ significantly. When students acquire deep but exam-specific knowledge through coaching, they may struggle to identify and present the precise information required in school examinations. Consequently, they may write irrelevant or excessive content and run out of time during school exams.
Even when the subjects taught in schools and coaching institutes are the same, the topics emphasized and teaching methods often differ. School examinations largely require descriptive and analytical answers, whereas most entrance examinations are objective and MCQ-based. Therefore, the preparation strategies for school exams and entrance exams are fundamentally different. Students are burdened with the task of preparing simultaneously for both formats within limited time.
Moreover, students are expected to maintain regular school attendance while also attending coaching classes. This dual responsibility forces them to travel between institutions, leaving them with little time for homework, self-study, rest, or even proper meals. Such a hectic schedule creates a severe imbalance in their lives, adversely affecting both physical and mental health. Increased stress, anxiety, and health issues become common, and instead of excelling, students often perform poorly in both school and entrance examinations.
Enrolling children in coaching institutes assumes that they can manage parallel academic systems efficiently—an expectation that is largely inhuman. The way forward lies in strengthening and future-orienting the school education system. Schools should incorporate entrance-exam-oriented preparation alongside regular assessments and employ expert teachers for guidance, counselling, and academic support. Additionally, examination committees for school and entrance exams should work in tandem to reduce excessive pressure on students. Coordination between these bodies can help determine essential testing requirements and enable better integration of syllabi.
Given the increasing stress faced by students, it is crucial to move away from an overreliance on coaching culture and reinforce the school education system. Integrating school examination requirements with entrance examination demands can significantly reduce pressure and provide much-needed relief to children.