Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi

New Delhi, Feb 15: Congress leader and National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) in-charge Kanhaiya Kumar on Saturday expressed deep concern over the commercialization of education in India, stating that the surge in private coaching centers has contributed to a rising student suicide rate, allegedly surpassing that of farmers.

Addressing a press conference, Kumar lamented that education is now seen through a profit-oriented lens. “The government is deliberately lowering the standards of public institutions to favor private coaching centers. These institutions exploit hardworking families, charging exorbitant fees without any accountability for students’ futures,” he remarked.

Highlighting the immense academic pressure on students, Kumar asserted that the focus has shifted from learning to performance. “The system is designed to extract money, not to educate. The limited number of seats in premier institutions and lack of transparency in examinations only add to the burden,” he said.

He called upon the government to regulate the unchecked expansion of coaching centers, emphasizing the urgent need for reforms.

Referring to a recent student suicide case in Gorakhpur, Kumar underscored the gravity of the crisis, stating, “A student takes their life every hour in India. Human lives are sacred and must not be reduced to mere statistics.”

Further criticizing the government, he said unemployment has reached a 35-year high. “Job opportunities are shrinking, and examination papers are frequently leaked. Who is responsible for this mess?” he questioned.