A committee set up by the Ministry of Education has come up with key ideas to change how high school education works in India. These ideas focus on cutting down the time students spend in coaching classes to just 2-3 hours a day, making school lessons more like the tests for JEE and NEET, and giving more importance to board exam scores for getting into colleges. This comes as a response to growing worries about too many coaching centres, the stress they cause on students, and how they make education unfair for those who cannot afford extra classes.
What is the Role of the Committee Appointed by the Centre?
Purpose of Formation: The committee was set up on June 17, 2025, by the Ministry of Education to look into problems like the rise of coaching centres, dummy schools, and how fair competitive exams are.
Who Leads It: It is headed by Vineet Joshi, who is the Secretary of the Department of Higher Education, and includes members like CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh, NTA Director General Rajesh Lakhani, and professors from IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, and NIT Trichy.
Meetings and Focus: The group met twice, on August 26 and November 15, 2025, at Shastri Bhawan in New Delhi, to discuss ways to make schools stronger so students rely less on coaching.
Why is There a Need to Reduce Dependence on Coaching Institutes?
Growth of Coaching Centres: Coaching has grown because schools do not fully prepare students for exams like JEE and NEET, creating a parallel system where students skip regular classes for "dummy schools" focused only on entrance tests.
Student Stress Factors: High-pressure exams with only one chance a year cause mental health issues, and starting coaching early adds to the load, leading to a narrow idea of success based just on scores.
Inequality in Education: Not all students can afford coaching, which often hires experts like engineers or doctors, making education unfair for those from poorer backgrounds.
What are the Main Problems Identified in the Current School System?
Syllabus Mismatch: School lessons from boards like CBSE focus on understanding concepts, but exams like JEE and NEET use quick MCQ questions, so students feel unprepared without extra help.
Teacher Training Gaps: Many school teachers are trained only for board exams and lack skills to teach advanced problem-solving or provide study tools like tests and analytics that coaching offers.
Lack of Guidance: Schools do not have enough career counselling, leaving students confused about choices and pushing them towards coaching for direction.
How Will Capping Coaching Hours Help Students?
Daily Limit Proposal: Setting a cap at 2-3 hours aims to give students more time for rest, hobbies, and family, reducing burnout from the current 5-6 hours many spend.
Well-Being Benefits: This change addresses the mental toll, as seen in rising cases of student anxiety and suicides linked to exam pressure.
Enforcement Ideas: Coaching centres would need to follow rules on ads and share honest details about their success, helping parents make better choices.
What Changes are Suggested for School Curricula and Exams?
Alignment with Competitive Tests: Redesign lessons to include higher-thinking skills, timed tests, and topics that match JEE and NEET, so schools can prepare students directly.
Hybrid Question Format: Mix MCQs with written answers to encourage real understanding instead of memorising, making exams fairer.
Board Exam Importance: Giving more points to Class 12 scores in admissions means students focus on school work, not just entrance prep.
Why Consider Competitive Exams in Class 11?
Spreading Pressure: Holding tests earlier could let students prepare over two years, reducing last-minute stress in Class 12.
Sub-Committee Review: A group will check if this is possible by comparing syllabi across boards and seeing the best timing.
Frequency Increase: More exam sessions per year would give second chances, lowering the "do-or-die" feeling.
What is the Plan for Better Career Guidance in Schools?
Starting Early: Introduce counselling from Class 8 to help students pick subjects based on interests, not just trends.
National Portal: An online tool for aptitude tests and personalised advice for students and parents to make informed decisions.
School Support: Add remedial classes and mentors in schools to fill gaps without needing coaching.
How Will Teacher Training be Improved?
Focus on Skills: Train teachers in competency-based teaching, which means practical skills over theory, through NCERT and CBSE programs.
Professor of Practice: Bring experts from industries or colleges as guest teachers to share real-world knowledge.
Overall Ecosystem: Schools need to add regular tests and study materials to match what coaching provides.
What are the Broader Implications for India's Education System?
Equity and Access: These changes aim to make education fairer, helping rural or low-income students compete without expensive coaching.
Long-Term Goals: Strengthening schools will support national aims like better workforce skills and reducing the coaching market worth over Rs 50,000 crore.
Challenges Ahead: Implementing this needs coordination between states and centre, as education is a shared subject, and monitoring coaching rules will be key.
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