NEW DELHI: Anand Kumar, the esteemed founder of Super 30, has expressed serious concerns about the current state of coaching institutes following a tragic incident where three UPSC candidates drowned due to rainwater flooding the library at Rau’s IAS coaching center in Old Rajender Nagar, central Delhi. Kumar highlighted the shift in perception, noting that students are now viewed more as ‘customers’ rather than learners.

Despite the growing availability of online educational resources, students continue to flock to Delhi for coaching. Kumar suggests that the future of educational institutions may lean heavily towards online learning. “Although my prediction might be speculative, based on my experience, I believe that 90 percent of these coaching institutes could disappear in the next 10 to 15 years,” Kumar stated.

Kumar pointed out that online education currently represents only a tiny fraction of the market, with high-quality content and curricula still underdeveloped. He envisions a future where students can benefit from online classes delivered by dedicated educators, offering a more convenient and effective alternative to traditional offline coaching.

In light of the recent tragedy, Kumar urged the government to form a dedicated team to offer free coaching to UPSC candidates, drawing a parallel with the extensive effort involved in creating quality educational resources like NCERT books. He proposed the development of a substantial online tutoring platform similar to these educational resources.

Offering his condolences for the recent loss of life, Kumar condemned the business-oriented approach adopted by many coaching centers, urging them to prioritize the health and safety of their students. He suggested that coaching centers should limit their student intake to ensure adequate seating and better educational outcomes.

Kumar has resisted commercialization despite numerous investment offers to expand his coaching institute, emphasizing the importance of maintaining educational quality and integrity. He stressed that education should not be driven by profit but by a genuine commitment to student welfare.

The commercialization of education has also been highlighted by Jagdeep Dhankar, the chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Dhankar noted that tutoring has become increasingly commercialized, with many institutions referring to parents as ‘clients.’ He suggested that the issue warrants further discussion and may be addressed in parliamentary proceedings.

The tragic drowning of three UPSC candidates on July 27 occurred when water inundated a coaching center’s basement in Old Rajinder Nagar, West Delhi.