Context:
• The NSS 80th Round Survey (April–June 2025) highlights the rising financial burden of education in India.
• This is significant despite the constitutional guarantee of free and compulsory education for children aged 6–14 years under Article 21A.
• Increasing dependence on private schools and private coaching raises concerns about equity and access, especially for low-income households.
Key Highlights:
Survey Findings on School Enrolment
• Nationally, 55.9% of students attend government schools.
• 31.9% attend private unaided schools.
• Urban–rural differences are stark:
– Urban private school enrolment: 51.4%
– Rural private school enrolment: 24.3%
• This reflects a growing preference for private schooling, especially in cities.
Education Costs and Fee Burden
• Private school fees impose heavy costs:
– Rural: ₹17,988 – ₹33,567 per year
– Urban: ₹26,188 – ₹49,075 per year
• The cost of private schooling can equal the monthly income of the poorest households, showing severe affordability challenges.
Rise of Private Coaching Culture
• Private tuition has become widespread:
– Rural students taking coaching: 25.5%
– Urban students taking coaching: 30.7%
• Average coaching expenditure:
– Rural: ₹7,066
– Urban: ₹13,026
• This indicates increasing commercialization of education beyond school fees.
Policy and Structural Insights
• NEP 2020 aims to universalize education from pre-primary to higher secondary by 2030.
• However, private schooling and tuition remain dominant, suggesting gaps in public education quality.
• Private school enrolment has increased from the 75th Round (2017–18) to the 80th Round (2025).
Contradiction to “Free Education” Notion
• A significant share of students still pay course fees:
– Government schools: 25.3% rural, 34.7% urban
– Private schools: 98%+ students pay fees
• This challenges the real-world implementation of free education guarantees.
Inequality and Social Justice Concerns
• Private tuition is more common among higher-income families with better-educated parents.
• This deepens learning outcome inequalities and reduces opportunities for disadvantaged groups.
• A 2024 study stresses the need to strengthen publicly funded schools to reduce reliance on private tuition.
Relevant Prelims Points:
• Issue: Rising education expenditure despite free education provisions.
• Causes:
– Shift towards private schooling
– Poor quality perception of government schools
– Growth of coaching industry
• Government Initiatives:
– Article 21A (Right to Education)
– NEP 2020 universalization target by 2030
• Benefits of Strong Public Education:
– Equitable access
– Reduced household financial burden
– Improved social mobility
• Challenges:
– Increasing privatization
– Urban–rural disparities
– Inequality in learning outcomes
• Impact:
– Poor households face exclusion from quality education
– Reinforces socio-economic divides
Relevant Mains Points:
• Constitutional Provision:
– Article 21A ensures free and compulsory education for ages 6–14.
• Key Concept:
– Monthly Per Capita Expenditure (MPCE) measures household consumption burden.
• Governance and Social Justice Dimensions:
– Education costs undermine inclusive growth.
– Dependence on private coaching reflects systemic gaps.
• NEP 2020 Goals:
– Universal education from pre-primary to higher secondary by 2030.
• Concerns:
– Privatization increases inequality.
– Weak public schooling pushes families into expensive alternatives.
• Way Forward:
– Strengthen government school infrastructure and teacher quality
– Improve learning outcomes through accountability
– Regulate private coaching and ensure affordability
– Expand targeted scholarships and support for disadvantaged groups
– Ensure effective implementation of RTE framework beyond elementary level
UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):
• GS 2 (Social Justice): Equity in education, access for marginalized groups
• GS 2 (Governance): Policy implementation gaps in RTE and NEP
• GS 3 (Economy): Household expenditure burden, human capital investment
• Prelims: Article 21A, NEP 2020, MPCE concepts