ABSTRACT
Much of the recent debate and discussion on schooling in India focuses on private and public provision of schooling. The commitment of the Indian government to provide access and reduce all gender and social gaps in enrolment has been strong and in place even before the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education or Right to Education (RTE) Act was passed into law in 2010. In the eastern region of India West Bengal, Bihar and Odisha private school enrolment is very low. So far, available research on this topic in India refers to general patterns and explanations across the country, rather than an investigation of the differences in geography, time and phases of education. The phenomenon of additional educational inputs through tuition classes and coaching centres is very widespread and visible in India especially in secondary and post-secondary education. Indian schools focus on completing curriculum rather than on delivering learning.
