Save Our Future

Education has seen a drastic change globally in the past 25 years, although in many ways, India still lags; it's fair to say that the Indian education system missed the bus to modernity in education. In the era of Chat GTP and AI, Indian students are still trained in primitive modes, still educating people about the long-gone industrial generation. The present-day education system has no space for creative learning and thinking; students are chained to a specific syllabus and are not encouraged to go out of the box. 

India is a young nation with a median age of 32.4. In India, we have a considerable number of young people. However, when we come to the education index, the nation is ranked low at 92, which shows that the future is in danger. The scariest thing is that policymakers and the government are least bothered about the issue. 

We still primarily rely upon the Euro-centric education given to us by the Britishers; this issue is so much so that parents are proud in saying that their kid failed the vernacular language and is acing the coloniser's language. There are also many English medium school which penalises students for using the vernacular language.  In the 21st century, when the nations are proud of their language, we have a society which sees it as a sin to speak the mother tongue. 

IITs, NITs, AIIMS, and IIMs were places envisioned by Jawaharlal Nehru, the nation's first prime minister, to be the centres of advanced learning. Nehru saw the importance of scientific and technological education in nation-building and development. His vision for the IITs was grounded in the belief that science and technology were essential drivers of progress and prosperity for a newly independent India. Although almost 70 years later, as Infosys teach giant Narayanamurty rightly pointed out, the level of research in our nation is degrading due to coaching classes. To quote him, he said, “Even our IITs have become victims of this syndrome, thanks to the tyranny of coaching classes.” The syndrome mentioned a lack of innovation and invention from our top institutions.

In a  nation where the law dictates that education is the fundamental right of every individual, we should be guilty of not being able to provide children with a fair education due to an evil that has crept into our education system called private coaching institutions. There are mainly two exams students sit for in India: NEET and JEE, the former for medical colleges and the latter for engineering. From this year onwards, the CUET, a standard entrance examination of all the national universities, adds to the issue.  

As mentioned above, the craze for coaching comes from the desire of the parents for their progeny to crack the examinations. Most kids in coaching 

classes often come under compulsion from parents and not free will.  Arguments may come forward that coaching can do well due to the extra attention that student gets. Here, we must wake up and realise it's all not ornaments and golden chandeliers. 

Many coaching institutes have become profit-driven businesses rather than centres for quality education. This leads to exorbitant fees, aggressive marketing, and the prioritisation of revenue over the educational needs of students. The coaching institution only focuses on a certain number of people who could be used as the face of these institutions; the rest are seen as cash cows that will fund their ventures. If it was for all equity and providing better attention, why not provide them with the same faculty or faculty with identical abilities? Why bring partiality? 

Another noteworthy issue with coaching institutions will be the kind of torture the students are going through. The intense competition and high expectations in coaching centres put immense pressure on students. This often leads to physical and mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. The emphasis on rote learning and exam-centric teaching can stifle creativity and critical thinking. The emotional and mental stability of the person is fully degraded by the time they crack an entrance examination. 

The coaching industry in India is often poorly regulated, leading to a lack of transparency and accountability. This makes it easier for unscrupulous institutes to thrive, taking advantage of students and their parents. Many coaching institutions charge exorbitant fees from the parents, and if the student backs out, none of it is refunded. Due to a lack of regulations, another issue is that the quality of teachers in coaching centres can vary widely. Sometimes, instructors may lack the qualifications or pedagogical skills to teach complex subjects effectively. A lack of trained teachers can hinder the learning process, and the money the students pay goes to waste. 

Large class sizes and the rush to cover extensive syllabi can result in a lack of individualised attention to students. This can be particularly challenging for students who require personalised guidance or have unique learning needs. Many coaching centres also prioritise rote learning and short-term memorisation over a deeper understanding of concepts. This can hinder students' ability to apply their knowledge in real-world situations. This can also be connected as one of the root causes for the high rate of dropouts from colleges with a centralised entrance test. 

Reports of unethical practices such as cheating, leaking of question papers, and favouritism are common in the coaching industry. These practices erode trust and undermine the integrity of the education system.

To address these issues, there is a need for comprehensive reforms in the coaching industry, including better regulation, a focus on holistic education, affordability, improved teacher training, and a shift away from a one-size-fits-all approach to education. Parents, students, and educational policymakers must work collaboratively to create an environment that prioritises students' well-being and long-term growth over short-term results.

“Shut coaching institutes; they suck” was the last words of a brilliant Kriti Tripathi 17-year-old student who died in 2016. She scored more marks than the cutoff; she did not take her own life due to the marks but instead the system. She says in her final letter that she started hating herself due to the process. Her precious life was given as a result of the system, and we can't provide any more lives as martyrs of the system; hence, the government must awaken, end fashion, and save our future.