The problem with schools: Growth in pvt coaching reflects systemic decay

The government recently released highlights from the Comprehensive Modular Survey of Education, part of the 80th round of the National Sample Survey, conducted in April-June. Several aspects of this study are of interest. For example, two-thirds of students in rural India are in government schools, while in urban India the reverse is true, with 70 per cent of students in private aided or unaided schools. One major concern that deserves greater policy attention arising from the report is, however, the unchecked growth of private coaching. According to the survey, average expenditure per student on private coaching is over