Coaching mustn't replace classrooms

India's education system shows deep cracks - and that hardly bodes well for a nation aspiring to be a knowledge power. The CMS Education Survey, part of the 80th round of National Sample Survey (NSS), shows that state-run schools remain pivotal, accounting for 55.9% of total enrolments. Their role is even greater in rural areas, where two-thirds (66%) of students are enrolled, compared with 30.1% in urban areas. Yet, in otherwise price-sensitive Indian households, the contrast in spending is stark: while the average annual cost of educating a child in a private school is ₹25,000, the figure drops to ₹2,863 in state schools. But the most worrying trend - nearly 30% of students still rely on private coaching.

The steady decline in state school enrolment - from about 74% in the late 1970s to barely 51-56% today - is an ominous sign, as it risks prompting the state to retreat further from investing in education. This slide reflects the perception that state schools can't adequately meet students' needs. What's required is a serious effort to make them the default choice for parents, rather than the option of last resort. But the problem runs deeper. The inadequacy of teaching in state schools has driven many parents toward private schools, yet, these too often fall short. This double failure has fuelled the rise of private coaching. Around 30% of students have relied on coaching since 2022.

This situation cannot be allowed to drift for long. Without urgent redressal - strengthening schools, ensuring quality teaching and curbing dependence on coaching - the consequences will be stark. No nation can hope to thrive if its schools keep failing its children.