CMS Education Survey 2025: Private coaching is becoming an increasingly common part of school education in India, particularly among urban students. The CMS Education Survey 2025, as part of the 80th round of the National Sample Survey (NSS), throws light on household expenditure on education in rural and urban areas.
One in Three Students Opting for Private Coaching
The survey finds that almost 30% of the students across the country are enrolled in private coaching classes. The trend is more active in urban areas, where 30.7% of students avail themselves of coaching, compared to 25.5% in rural areas.
Urban Families Spending Nearly 4X More Than Rural Ones
According to the report, the per-student expenditure on education in urban areas was ₹15,143, as compared to rural households, who spent ₹3,979. Most of the expenditure was spent on course fees (₹7,111), followed by stationery and textbooks (₹2,002).
Private coaching costs also reflected a stark contrast: urban households spent ₹3,988 per student per year, compared to rural households, who spent just ₹1,793.
Higher Coaching Costs at Senior Secondary Level
At the higher secondary level, coaching expenses jump significantly. Urban families spent ₹9,950, which is almost twice the rural average of ₹4,548, which implies that educational costs increase with educational levels.
Government Schools Continue to Dominate Rural Enrolments
The report indicates that 66% of rural students are studying in government schools, whereas only 30.1% study in urban areas. Private unaided schools make up 31.9% of total enrolments.
Households Shoulder the Cost Burden
For 95% of the students, education in school is funded mainly by family members. Scholarships from the government were the source of funding for only 1.2% of the students.
