Vice President Dhankhar Flags Coaching Culture as Obstacle to NEP Goals

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar recently raised strong concerns about how the booming coaching culture in India is becoming a major barrier to achieving the objectives set under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Speaking at a convocation ceremony, he emphasised that the growing dependence on coaching centres is not only undermining the formal education system but is also narrowing the purpose of learning itself. He highlighted the urgent need to bring the focus back on critical thinking, creativity and holistic development—key goals of the NEP.

I’m writing about this because the pressure of coaching and entrance exam preparation has become the new normal for many students, especially in urban areas. As someone who has seen how students often lose interest in learning for knowledge and focus only on clearing exams, I believe this conversation is long overdue. The NEP was introduced to reduce stress and promote diverse learning paths, but the reality on the ground seems to be moving in a different direction. By exploring what the Vice President said and the ground reality, we can reflect on where our education system is headed and whether the current coaching-driven culture truly helps our children in the long run.

Vice President’s Concerns on Coaching Culture

During his address, Vice President Dhankhar pointed out that coaching centres are increasingly dictating how students approach education. Instead of learning concepts through classroom teaching and engaging with subjects meaningfully, students are pushed into rote learning just to crack competitive exams. This trend, he said, defeats the purpose of a balanced education system as envisioned in the NEP.

He stated, “This unhealthy dependence on coaching undermines school education and lowers its credibility. It transforms education into a race for marks rather than a pursuit of knowledge.”

Why It Conflicts With NEP 2020

The National Education Policy 2020 was introduced with the vision of making education flexible, skill-based and rooted in real-life learning. Some of its core principles include:

Emphasis on critical thinking and problem-solving
Integration of vocational skills and art
Multilingual education
Reducing exam stress and high-stakes testing
Encouraging curiosity, creativity and application-based knowledge

However, coaching institutes often contradict these goals by focusing solely on entrance exams like NEET, JEE or CUET, where success is determined by speed and accuracy under pressure—not by understanding or innovation.

The Pressure Students Face

Across the country, lakhs of students enrol in coaching hubs in places like Kota, Hyderabad and Delhi. Many live away from families and are pushed into rigorous routines from a very young age. Mental health concerns, burnout, and even tragic incidents like student suicides have repeatedly made headlines. Parents spend lakhs of rupees in the hope of securing their child’s future, but often without asking whether the child actually wants to pursue that path.

It’s a system that rewards test performance more than interest or talent.

What Needs to Change?

To align our education system with the goals of NEP, we need some real changes, such as:

Strengthening school education so that students don’t feel the need for external coaching
Making competitive exams more balanced, with a focus on real understanding
Promoting alternative pathways like vocational training and skill development
Training teachers to implement NEP’s ideas at the grassroots level
Encouraging students to explore subjects without the fear of exams

Education and Employment Can Transform Society: Dinesh Gundu Rao Highlights the Way Forward

During a recent public address in Mangaluru, Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stressed that education and employment are two powerful tools that can shape the future of any society. He pointed out that when people are educated and have meaningful jobs, they can rise above social divisions, poverty, and other long-standing issues. His statement came while addressing students and faculty at a function organised at Srinivas University, where he also touched on the importance of knowledge-driven growth.

I felt the need to write about this because it’s rare to hear such a strong political focus on the link between education, employment and overall societal transformation. We often hear about schemes, budgets and infrastructure, but rarely is the bigger picture discussed—how these two sectors can change the life of a common person. This topic matters to all of us, especially the youth, who are navigating a fast-changing job market while also dealing with rising academic pressure. By writing about this, I hope more people start thinking seriously about how education is not just about degrees, and employment is not just about money—it’s about dignity, stability and progress.

Why Education and Employment Matter Together

Education and employment are often treated as separate issues, but in reality, they go hand-in-hand. Education gives people the ability to think, create and contribute. Employment gives them the opportunity to apply what they know, support their families, and be part of the economy. According to Dinesh Gundu Rao, these two pillars must be developed together if we want a fairer and more productive society.

He stressed that:

Lack of access to education pushes people into poverty.
Unemployment leads to frustration, crime, and brain drain.
A society that fails to create job-ready youth will always remain unequal.

This is why investing in schools, colleges, and job-oriented courses is not just a policy decision—it’s a moral responsibility.

Government’s Role in Creating Equal Opportunities

During the event, Rao mentioned that governments should focus not only on building schools and colleges but also on ensuring the quality of education. He said students from rural areas often struggle because they don’t have the same access to English-medium teaching or computer labs as those in urban areas. This kind of inequality reflects in the job market too, where rural youth get fewer chances.

He also pointed out that:

Many graduates remain unemployed or underemployed because they are not industry-ready.
There is a big gap between what is taught in classrooms and what the job market demands.
Career counselling and vocational training should start at the school level.

According to him, if we want to see real change, we need long-term thinking and serious government commitment—not just one-time policies or election promises.

Importance of Social Harmony for Progress

One of the key messages Rao delivered was about unity. He said education should be a tool to unite people and not divide them. The minister raised concern about how communalism and polarisation are slowly taking attention away from important issues like job creation and educational reform.

He added that:

When youth are unemployed, they are more vulnerable to divisive ideologies.
Education can help people develop critical thinking and tolerance.
A strong education and employment ecosystem reduces dependence on populist politics.

He urged young people to stay informed, ask questions, and focus on real-life issues rather than distractions.