Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Free Coaching Cannot Solve India’s Deeper Education Crisis
Many Indian students attend coaching classes to prepare for difficult entrance examinations.
These classes can cost families a lot of money.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proposed making online coaching free.
This could help poorer students compete with those who can afford expensive classes.
However, the article says coaching has become important partly because ordinary schools do not always teach enough.
There are also far fewer college seats and government jobs than applicants.
This makes examinations feel like contests for a small number of prizes.
The article says India should improve schools, make tests assess understanding, support vocational education and create more good jobs.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced free online coaching using digital infrastructure, teachers and technology.
Private coaching has expanded because many families distrust schools and colleges to prepare students for major examinations.
Weak foundational learning coexists with intense preparation for highly competitive tests such as JEE and NEET.
With millions competing for limited seats and jobs, examinations increasingly ration scarce opportunities rather than simply measure knowledge.
Free coaching may improve access, but the article argues that India must strengthen schools, expand credible pathways and create more employment opportunities.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian students and families, schools, coaching providers and policymakers.
- What
- The government plans to provide free online examination coaching, while the article examines why coaching has become so central to Indian education.
- When
- The announcement was made in Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address; the article also cites 2024 learning data and 2025 survey figures.
- Where
- India, including its schools, coaching centres and examination system.
- Why
- Coaching is expensive and unequal, but families rely on it because schooling is seen as insufficient and competition for higher education and employment is extremely intense.
- Proposed initiative
- A nationwide free online coaching network using digital public infrastructure, teachers and technology.
- Private coaching participation
- The cited 2025 National Sample Survey says 27% of school-going children take private coaching.
- Senior secondary coaching
- The share rises to 37% among senior secondary students, according to the cited survey.
- Foundational reading
- In 2024, 44.8% of Class 5 children in government schools could read a Class 2 text, according to ASER figures cited in the article.
- JEE Main candidates
- More than 16 lakh unique candidates registered for JEE Main this year.
- JEE Advanced eligibility
- Only the top 2.5 lakh JEE Main candidates are eligible to proceed to JEE Advanced.
- Policy direction
- The National Education Policy 2020 calls for less high-stakes, single-point testing and greater emphasis on competency and conceptual understanding.