By Pintu Paul
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has recently released the Comprehensive Modular Survey: Education (2025) report, a part of the 80th round of the National Sample Survey (NSS), focusing on household expenditure for currently enrolled students in school education. It provides a sobering yet illuminating snapshot of India’s current school education landscape. While government schools remain central, especially in rural areas, the rise of private schools, private coaching, and the growing financial burden of education are also notable.
Government schools in India account for 55.9 per cent of total enrolments. This marks a decline compared to earlier decades when public schools overwhelmingly dominated. The trend is most pronounced in urban areas, where only 30.1 per cent of children attend government schools, compared to 66 per cent in rural areas. This shift indicates the steady expansion of private schools, particularly in towns and cities, where rising aspirations and concerns about the quality of education have driven families towards private institutions.
The decline of enrolment in government schools, especially in urban areas, raises serious questions about the equity and inclusivity of the education system.
The expenditure gap on education is stark. On average, a household spends Rs 2,863 per student per year in government schools, compared to Rs 25,002 in non-government schools, in the current academic year. This tenfold difference is not just about fees — it highlights the inequality in educational experiences. Students incur the highest expenses on course fees (Rs 7,111), followed by textbooks and stationery (Rs 2,002), and transportation (Rs 1,842).
Urban households consistently spend more. Course fees in urban areas are Rs 15,143, nearly four times higher than the Rs 3,979 paid by rural families. Such expenditure gaps in education reinforce existing socio-economic divides in society.
The most important trend is the rise of private coaching, with 27 per cent of students relying on it. It is more common in urban India (30.7 per cent) than in rural areas (25.5 per cent). Households in urban areas are spending Rs 3,988 per student on coaching, compared to Rs 1,793 in rural areas.
The cost of coaching steadily increases with the level of education, from Rs 525 at the pre-primary level to Rs 6,384 in higher secondary. This “shadow education system” reflects the growing distrust of parents in the quality of education in schools, especially government schools, to provide effective education to their children.
The survey further reveals that 95 per cent of students’ education costs are covered by their families, with only 1.2 per cent citing government scholarships as their primary source of support. In a country that aspires to inclusive growth, this dependence on household spending for education raises a fundamental question: Why is public financing of education so limited?
The survey findings reaffirm the gap in education between rural and urban India. Three key interventions might change the situation.
Strengthen government schools: Revitalise public schools, improve infrastructure, ensure availability of qualified teachers, and restore public confidence in government schooling, especially in rural India.
Expand public financing: Public financing for education must be increased. Scholarships and subsidies should be prioritised to reduce the overwhelming financial burden on households.
Regulate the coaching industry: Unchecked private coaching exacerbates inequalities and distorts learning priorities. Thoughtful regulation and stronger in-school learning outcomes are needed to reduce dependence on shadow education.
The writer is an Assistant Professor at the Indian Social Institute, New Delhi, India
