The Congress party has criticized the government’s decision to launch a free online coaching program for students. They pointed out that the government has not managed its current free coaching scheme effectively.
At a recent event in Kota, Rahul Gandhi highlighted how Indian families spend significantly more on private coaching centers than what the government spends on education. He emphasized that this reliance on coaching centers has weakened the public education system.
Jairam Ramesh, the Congress communication chief, claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the free online coaching program under pressure from growing public concern about the education system. However, the Congress doubts the government’s ability to implement this new plan successfully.
According to a report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee, the existing free coaching scheme aimed to enroll 10,500 students over three years but has only enrolled around 26% of that target so far. Ramesh also noted that the government’s spending on education has decreased each year and often falls short of its budgeted amounts.
The Congress sees the new online coaching initiative as an attempt to avoid addressing deeper issues in India’s education system. They argue that instead of fixing the public education system, the government is using public funds for a program they believe lacks proper oversight and accountability.