Conference
Coaching Institutes, School Performance And Parental Choice: A Mixed-Methods Study Of Secondary Students In Chennai And Coimbatore.
Authors: S. Shyamsundar, Dr. M. Uma Raman
Abstract: This study offers a critical analysis of the widespread influence of private supplementary tuition, commonly known as “coaching,” in the urban education landscape of India, with a particular focus on Chennai and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. It explores the interconnections between students' participation in coaching institutes, their perceived academic performance in school, and the socio-economic factors that inform parental choices regarding secondary education. Employing an explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach, the research began with quantitative surveys administered to 483 students and 366 parents, followed by qualitative insights from 42 semi-structured interviews with parents, students, and teachers. The results show that more than 78% of the students surveyed attend coaching classes, driven largely by parental concerns over intense examination competition and doubts about the adequacy of school teaching. Regression analyses reveal a modest but statistically significant positive relationship between the number of coaching hours and students’ self-reported academic achievement (β = .18, p < .01), with this effect being influenced by factors such as family income and prior academic record. Qualitative thematic analysis further uncovers a nuanced parental logic, wherein coaching is viewed not just as additional academic support but as a deliberate strategy for social advancement and risk management in the face of a perceived unreliable school system. Accordingly, the study argues that the coaching industry operates as a quasi-independent educational subsystem, subtly reshaping notions of school accountability and reinforcing socio-economic inequalities. These findings highlight the pressing need for policymakers and educators to reevaluate current pedagogical practices, examination systems, and the core aims of formal education within an increasingly market-oriented context.
AI Adoption And Labor Demand Reallocation In India
Authors: Dr. Rajeshwar Prasad
Abstract: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly reshaping labor markets by altering the composition of tasks and skills demanded by firms. While evidence from advanced economies is growing, empirical research on developing economies such as India remains limited. This paper examines how AI adoption affects labor demand reallocation across occupations in India. Using sample job postings data and a task-based AI exposure index, we demonstrate that occupations intensive in non-routine cognitive tasks experience rising labor demand, while routine-intensive occupations face declining demand. The findings suggest that AI in India leads primarily to labor reallocation rather than widespread job displacement, with important implications for skill development and labor market policy.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18278526
