By Dr. Ashraf Zainabi

When the Education Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Sakina Itto, felicitated NEET and JEE toppers recently, it made for a heartwarming photo-op.

These students had worked hard, cleared one of the country’s toughest exams, and made Kashmir proud.

But beneath the applause was a question no one asked: Did these students ever really attend school during Classes 11 and 12?

The uncomfortable truth: they didn’t. And they’re not alone.

Across India, more than 37 lakh students appeared in NEET and JEE in 2025. It’s safe to say that at least 35 lakh of them were attending coaching centers instead of schools. Some enrolled in these centers for a year, others for two or even three.

Their schedules often run 9 to 5, six days a week. Their focus is unwavering. Their allegiance lies not with the school system, but with the coaching industry. That’s where their time, effort, and identity now reside.

In Kashmir, where NEET and JEE fever has reached new heights, this shift is no longer an exception.

In cities like Srinagar, students enroll in private or government higher secondary schools only to fulfill eligibility criteria. These institutions provide the official address, but the real schooling happens in glass buildings labeled academy, institute, or mission.

A Class 12 student preparing for NEET may not even remember the school principal’s name. Many wouldn’t be able to name a single teacher from their English or biology classes.........

© Kashmir Observer