The controversy began when Akash Samournanand Pandey, an IIT-BHU alumnus, shared his views on X (formerly Twitter), arguing that many JEE coaching teachers are often students who turned to teaching after failing to secure desirable placements during their college years.
“At 16, JEE coaching teachers seem to project an image of flamboyant geniuses who are IITians and can derive any Physics equation in 60 seconds. Rockstars,” Pandey wrote in his post.
However, he claimed that students' perceptions change significantly after they graduate from IITs themselves. According to Pandey, many coaching instructors are not necessarily among the top performers from their graduating batches.
“But by the end of IIT, you realise the truth: they were the leftovers in the placement season. Tier 2 students,” he stated.
Pandey further argued that teaching in coaching institutes often serves as a backup career option rather than a first-choice profession. He accused some instructors of exaggerating the value of the IIT dream while presenting themselves as academic authorities.
“Coaching was their backup plan. They peaked at 16 and got complacent. These guys are undergrads in suits playing dress-up professors in front of naive teenagers, overselling you the IIT dream. Real ones have a PhD,” he wrote.
The IIT graduate also contrasted coaching teachers with their peers who pursued careers in management, research, entrepreneurship, and other professional fields.
“While their batchmates moved on to MBAs, PhDs, and startups, they’ve been stuck on the same booklets of HC Verma and RD Sharma for 20 years,” he added.
Concluding his remarks, Pandey advised students not to confuse success in coaching with broader academic achievement, writing, “Don't mistake the gatekeeper for the owner of the castle.”
Social Media Divided
The post quickly gained traction online, drawing both criticism and support from users.
Some agreed with Pandey's assessment of the coaching industry and its impact on students. One user wrote, “Kind of agree! Now from the other side of the table, I see what these coaches do to the minds of these kids. It is a task for us to make those who come to IIT realise that life's greatest achievement cannot be that you cleared an exam at 18.”
Another commenter argued that many coaching teachers focus narrowly on entrance examinations rather than developing a deeper understanding of their subjects. “They don't even have that deep understanding of the subjects they are teaching compared to some good professors out there. They have just micro-tailored themselves for the entrance exams,” the user said.
However, several users came to the defense of coaching teachers, emphasizing that teaching ability should not be judged solely by corporate success or academic credentials.
“I disagree with most points on this. Some may eventually become good teachers. There is no need to prove that you are a good worker in corporate to prove that you can be good at imparting knowledge,” one user wrote.
Another dismissed the debate altogether, saying, “Who cares? Stop trying to classify people as ‘rockstars’ or ‘leftovers’. They help people and get paid for it — good for them.”
A Larger Debate on Education
The discussion has once again highlighted a long-running debate about India's coaching culture, where teachers often enjoy celebrity-like status among aspirants. While critics argue that coaching centres sometimes overmarket the IIT dream, supporters point out that thousands of students have benefited from the guidance of dedicated instructors regardless of their career backgrounds.
As reactions continue to pour in, the debate underscores differing views on what truly defines a successful teacher: academic credentials, professional achievements, or the ability to inspire and educate students effectively.
