A recent proposal to limit daily coaching hours for competitive exams such as JEE and NEET has brought long-standing concerns about India’s school education system back into public discussion. Education experts have largely supported the move, stating that it could ease excessive academic pressure on students. However, they have also cautioned that restricting coaching hours alone will not resolve deeper systemic challenges linked to teaching quality, curriculum gaps, and compensation structures.
Proposal to Limit Coaching Hours for Competitive Exams
The proposal, put forward by a committee under the Ministry of Education, recommends capping private coaching classes at two to three hours per day. The aim is to curb prolonged study schedules that often combine full school days with extended coaching sessions. Experts believe that such a cap could help restore balance to students’ daily routines, particularly for those preparing simultaneously for board examinations and national-level entrance tests.
Experts Flag Structural Gaps in School Education
Education specialists have pointed out that the rapid expansion of the coaching industry reflects underlying weaknesses in the formal school system. According to experts, school curricula and assessment methods often fail to align with the analytical and problem-solving skills tested in entrance examinations. As a result, students increasingly depend on external coaching to bridge this gap, making coaching both indispensable and burdensome.
Concerns Over Teacher Salaries and Quality
The renewed debate has also shifted focus toward teacher salaries and professional standards. Experts argue that without competitive wages and consistent training, schools struggle to attract and retain high-quality teachers capable of preparing students for complex examinations. Calls have been made for minimum wage benchmarks and structured career progression for teachers to improve classroom outcomes and reduce dependence on private coaching.
Rising Student Stress and Long Study Hours
Several education commentators have highlighted the intense schedules followed by aspirants, with many students reportedly studying for 10 to 12 hours daily by combining school and coaching commitments. This prolonged academic load has raised concerns about mental health, burnout, and declining overall well-being. Limiting coaching hours, experts say, could serve as a first step toward addressing these concerns, provided it is accompanied by reforms within schools.
Call for Holistic Student Evaluation
Experts have stressed the importance of moving beyond single-exam performance as the primary measure of student ability. Suggestions include adopting holistic evaluation models that assess aptitude, creativity, and overall development rather than focusing exclusively on high-stakes entrance tests. Strengthening schools to independently prepare students for competitive exams, they argue, remains critical to reducing over-reliance on coaching institutes and ensuring sustainable academic reform.