Every third student across the country is taking private coaching, and spending is higher in urban areas: Education Survey

Around one-third of school students across the country are taking private coaching, on which urban families are spending many times more than in rural areas. According to the CMS education survey, government schools are still educating the largest number of students.

Every third school student across the country is taking private coaching, and this trend is more visible in urban areas. This information has come to light from the Comprehensive Modular Survey (CMS) of the Central Government. The survey also revealed that government schools still play an important role in the education system in India, where they account for 55.9 percent of the total enrollment.

Condition of government and private schools

According to the survey, about two-thirds (66 percent) of children in rural areas are studying in government schools, while in urban areas this figure is only 30.1 percent. Whereas, 31.9 percent of children across the country study in private unaided (recognized) schools.
This survey is part of the 80th phase of the National Sample Survey (NSS), in which information was collected specifically about the expenditure on school education. For this, data was taken from 52,085 households and 57,742 students across the country.

Increasing trend of coaching

The survey found that 27 percent of students are taking or have taken private coaching in this academic session. This ratio is 30.7 percent in urban areas, while in rural areas it is 25.5 percent.

Talking about expenditure, urban families spent an average of Rs 3,988 per student annually on coaching, while rural families spent an average of Rs 1,793.

Expenses increasing with increasing level of education

Expenses on coaching are also increasing rapidly with increasing level of education.

Average expenditure on primary level: Rs 525.

Average expenditure on higher secondary level: Rs 6,384.

Expense on coaching at higher secondary level in urban areas: Rs 9,950.

In rural areas: Rs 4,548

It is clear that expenditure on coaching in cities is many times more than in rural areas.

Who bears the expenses of studies?

According to the survey, 95% of the students who spend on school education said that their family members are the first major source of education. This situation is same in both rural (95.3%) and urban (94.4%) areas. Whereas, 1.2% of the students said that the main source of their education is government scholarship.

Previous survey and changes

Earlier in the year 2017-18, the 75th round of NSS was conducted on education, but according to officials of the Ministry of Education, its results cannot be directly compared with the current survey because then Anganwadi centers were not included in the category of pre-primary education and the expenditure on coaching was also added to the education expenditure, whereas the CMS survey included Anganwadi in pre-primary education and counted school education and coaching expenses in separate categories.

Total expenditure on education

The survey also revealed that in all types of schools, the highest expenditure per student in this academic year was on average on course fees (Rs 7,111), followed by Rs 2,002 on books and stationery.

There is a big difference in expenditure between urban and rural areas.

Average course fees in urban areas: Rs 15,143.

Average course fees in rural areas: Rs 3,979.