Shadow schooling:
A government report from the Comprehensive Modular Survey (CMS) on education revealed that 33% of school students in India take private coaching, showing rising dependence on “shadow schooling.”
- Shadow Schooling is the practice where students supplement regular school education with private coaching or tutoring outside the formal system.
- It is Called “shadow” because it mirrors school subjects but is offered privately, often for a fee.
- Features:
- Parallel system alongside formal schooling.
- Covers the same syllabus but provides extra practice, exam strategies, and individual attention.
- Driven by competitive exams, parental aspirations, and quality concerns in schools.
2025 CMS report:
- National average: 27% students take coaching → rises to 30.7% in urban areas and 25.5% in rural.
- Spending gap: Urban families spend nearly ₹3,988 annually per child, rural families ₹1,793.
- Higher secondary: Urban households spend ₹9,950 per student, almost double rural levels (₹4,548).
- Growth with age: Coaching expenses rise from ₹525 (pre-primary) to ₹6,384 (higher secondary).
- Funding: 95% of students rely on household resources, only 1.2% benefit from government scholarships.
