Letter to Editor: Kashmir’s Coaching Industry Is Taking Over Childhood

For many Kashmiri students, the dream of becoming a doctor or engineer starts with excitement and ends in pressure. NEET and JEE were once clear paths toward stable careers. They now feel like hurdles placed inside a system where money shapes opportunity.

A journey that should inspire confidence has turned into a market built on the worries of teenagers and the hopes of their families.

Coaching centers have spread across the valley at a fast pace. In Srinagar, Anantnag, Sopore, and other towns, signboards promise top ranks and guaranteed success. These messages tell families that coaching is the only route forward and that a high fee buys a better chance.

The cost often runs from several thousand rupees to several lakhs. There is little oversight, and most parents have no way to judge w