In a decisive move aimed at addressing the growing phenomenon of students bypassing traditional schools in favor of private coaching institutes, the Ministry of Education has announced the formation of a high‐level nine‑member committee under the chairmanship of Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi.
Tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of the current school‐to‑higher‑education pipeline, the panel will examine systemic weaknesses that foster over‑reliance on supplementary coaching, the emergence of so‑called “dummy schools,” and the intense focus on a narrow range of competitive entrance examinations.
Scope of the Inquiry
According to senior officials within the Ministry, the committee’s Terms of Reference (ToR) cover a broad spectrum of issues:
- Identifying Gaps in the Schooling System
- The panel will carry out an in‑depth assessment of how existing curricula and pedagogical approaches may inadvertently encourage rote memorization rather than developing higher‑order skills.
- Particular attention will be paid to the extent to which schools foster critical thinking, logical reasoning, analytical problem‑solving, and creative innovation—capacities widely recognized as indispensable for success in both contemporary higher‑education programs and emerging 21st‑century occupations.
- Investigating ‘Dummy Schools’ and Their Impact
- The committee will launch an inquiry into the proliferation of “dummy schools”—institutions that nominally enroll students while facilitating their full‑time attendance at external coaching centres.
- Officials say that these entities often operate in a regulatory grey zone, effectively enabling students to forgo formal schooling schedules in favor of relentless exam preparation. The panel will document the root causes behind this trend and propose regulatory, structural, or policy remedies to curb its spread.
- Assessing the Fairness and Effectiveness of Entrance Examinations
- Recognizing the outsized influence that high‑stakes exams exert on student trajectories, the committee will analyze whether current examination formats and assessment criteria are equitable and aligned with broader educational goals.
- The study will also evaluate the potential unintended consequences of these exams: driving families to invest heavily in private coaching as a perceived prerequisite for success.
- Evaluating Formative Assessments and Conceptual Preparedness
- The panel will examine how routine formative assessments—ongoing evaluations designed to guide student learning—are employed (or underutilized) at both school and early higher‑education levels.
- Investigators will explore the correlation between the absence of robust formative feedback mechanisms and students’ lack of conceptual depth when they enter competitive exam coaching.
- Examining Supply‑Demand Dynamics in Quality Higher Education
- Another critical area of inquiry involves the mismatch between soaring student aspirations for premier college and university seats and the limited number of available places.
- Officials will model how this supply‑demand imbalance contributes directly to the multi‑billion‑dollar coaching industry’s rapid growth, in which students compete fiercely for an ever‑narrowing set of seats.
- Understanding Career Awareness and Counselling Gaps
- The committee will survey students and parents to gauge their awareness of the full range of viable career pathways beyond a handful of flagship institutions.
- It will also evaluate the presence and efficacy of in‑school and in‑college career counselling services, identifying best practices and critical shortcomings. Based on these findings, the panel will draft recommendations to bolster career guidance frameworks and expand students’ knowledge of diverse post‑secondary options.
Composition and Timeline
Led by Vineet Joshi, the nine‑member committee brings together experts from across the education spectrum, including senior PWD officials, representatives from major national testing agencies, experienced educators, curriculum specialists, and student‑wellbeing advocates.
The Ministry has set an ambitious timetable: the committee is expected to submit its final report within three months, outlining both short‑term interventions and longer‑term structural reforms. Among the anticipated recommendations are:
- Curriculum revisions to integrate critical‑thinking modules.
- Mandatory minimum hours of formative assessment per term.
- Stricter licensing and monitoring of private “dummy schools.”
- Restructured entrance exam formats to de‑emphasize memorization.
- Enhanced career‑counselling ratification and training programs for teachers and school counsellors.
A Holistic Vision for the Future
This initiative reflects the Ministry’s broader commitment to transform India’s education ecosystem into one that balances academic rigor with creative inquiry, personal development, and career readiness.
By diagnosing the systemic incentives that propel students towards an ever‑expanding coaching industry, the panel aims not only to level the playing field but also to foster a genuine love for learning, preparing young citizens not just to ace examinations but to thrive as innovative thinkers and responsible global participants.
As Vineet Joshi remarked at the committee’s inaugural session, “Our goal is to re‑anchor our education system in its core mission: to cultivate capable, confident, and curious learners who see education as a journey of discovery rather than a treadmill of test preparation.”
The Ministry has pledged to make the panel’s findings public, ensuring transparency and inviting stakeholder feedback before rolling out any new policy measures.
