Context:
The Comprehensive Modular Survey (CMS) 2025 on education revealed that 33% of school students in India take private coaching, indicating growing reliance on “shadow schooling”.
About Shadow Schooling:
- Definition: Supplementing regular school education with private coaching or tutoring outside the formal system.
- Why “Shadow”? It mirrors school subjects but is offered privately, usually for a fee.
- Features:
- Operates parallel to formal schooling.
- Focus on practice, exam strategies, and personalized attention.
- Driven by competitive exams, parental aspirations, and concerns over school quality.
Key Findings of CMS 2025 Report:
- National Average: 27% of students take private coaching.
- Urban vs Rural:
- Urban: 30.7% students.
- Rural: 25.5% students.
- Spending Gap:
- Urban families: ₹3,988 annually per child.
- Rural families: ₹1,793 annually per child.
- Higher Secondary Education:
- Urban households spend ₹9,950 per student, almost double rural (₹4,548).
- Growth with Age:
- Pre-primary: ₹525 per student.
- Higher secondary: ₹6,384 per student.
- Funding Source:
- 95% of students depend on household resources.
- Only 1.2% benefit from government scholarships.
About CMS (Comprehensive Modular Survey):
- Conducted by the Government of India-National Statistics Office (NSO) to assess education, health, and social indicators.
- Provides granular data on household spending and access to services.
