Nearly one in three school students in India now takes private coaching, with the practice far more common in urban areas, according to latest Comprehensive Modular Survey (CMS) on education released by govt. The findings sketch a system where govt schools remain central in rural India while urban families increasingly prefer private schools and supplement classroom learning with paid coaching.
The survey, carried out by ministry of statistics and programme implementation as part of 80th round of the National Sample Survey, covered over 52,000 households and nearly 58,000 students to assess household expenditure on schooling and tutoring.
Govt schools still dominate nationally, accounting for 55.9 per cent of enrolments, but their reach is stronger in villages, where two-thirds of children study. In cities, only 30.1 per cent attend govt schools, with parents showing a clear preference for private unaided institutions. Private schools account for almost a third of enrolments nationwide, with their share particularly significant in urban areas, where higher incomes and aspirations drive choice.
The financial gap is stark. Families with children in govt schools spend on average ₹2,863 per student annually, while those in non-govt schools spend nearly nine times more at ₹25,002. Only a quarter of govt school students reported paying course fees, compared to 95.7 per cent in private schools, rising to 98 per cent in urban unaided institutions. Across categories – fees, uniforms and books – urban families spend far more, with average course fees at ₹15,143 per student against ₹3,979 in rural households.
Private coaching has become a major burden. The survey found 27 per cent of students took coaching this year, rising to 30.7 per cent in urban areas and 25.5 per cent in rural. City households spend an average ₹3,988 per child annually, rural families ₹1,793. At higher secondary, city families spend ₹9,950 per student, twice rural average of ₹4,548. Coaching costs climb steadily, from ₹525 at pre-primary to ₹6,384 at higher secondary.
The survey also highlighted how education is financed. Across India, 95 per cent of students said the main source of funding was household members. Govt scholarships were cited by just 1.2 per cent.
What emerges is a dual narrative – govt schools remain backbone of rural education, while urban parents lean toward private institutions and coaching. This twin trend of private schooling and shadow education reflects both aspirations and inequalities at a time when NEP seeks equitable & affordable access to quality education.
