Parent: Dr. Malpani, I’ve been hearing a lot about Physicswallah and its upcoming IPO. People are praising it as a game-changer for education. But you seem to be worried. Why is that?
Dr. Malpani: That’s because I see the bigger picture. The problem isn’t just that Physicswallah is selling exam prep courses. The issue is what happens when they raise massive amounts of money from investors. They will be under enormous pressure to show exponential growth. And how do you think they’ll do that?
Parent: By enrolling more students, I suppose?
Dr. Malpani: Exactly. But at what cost? They will burn through their funding by spending heavily on advertising, influencers, and aggressive marketing to convince students to sign up for their courses. The problem is, exams are designed to create failures. Most students who enroll won’t pass. But they’ll still end up spending money, time, and effort on these courses, only to walk away feeling like failures.
Parent: That’s heartbreaking. But aren’t these courses at least helping students prepare better?
Dr. Malpani: That’s the illusion they sell. The reality is, all of this content is already available for free. With AI tutors like ChatGPT and Cotutor.tech, students can access high-quality, personalized tutoring 24/7 from the comfort of their homes. The entire premise of paying for online tuition is outdated when better, more flexible, and free alternatives exist.
Parent: But what about the structure that a coaching class provides? Many students struggle to study on their own.
Dr. Malpani: That’s exactly the problem. These classes make students dependent on being spoon-fed information instead of developing the ability to learn on their own. The result? Even if they fail their exams, they don’t know what to do next because they were never taught how to think for themselves. A better approach would be using AI-driven Socratic tutoring that encourages critical thinking and problem-solving.
Parent: So you’re saying these classes are not just ineffective, but also harmful?
Dr. Malpani: Precisely. They promote passive learning, where students memorize answers instead of understanding concepts. They push kids into a narrow path focused on exam success, ignoring the broader goal of lifelong learning. Worse, when these students fail, they don’t just lose money—they lose confidence and self-esteem. And this has long-term consequences, both for individuals and for our country.
Parent: How does this impact India as a whole?
Dr. Malpani: When an entire generation is trained to depend on being taught rather than learning independently, they struggle to adapt. They won’t be capable of creating their own opportunities, whether in jobs or entrepreneurship. We’re already seeing a rise in student suicides, increased unemployment, and exploitation of freshers because they don’t have the skills to navigate the real world. If we continue down this path, India will remain a country of job seekers rather than job creators.
Parent: But isn’t it too late to change things? Coaching classes have been around for decades.
Dr. Malpani: It’s never too late, but we have to act now. The good news is that technology gives us a way out. We no longer need expensive coaching classes when world-class education is available online for free. What we need are safe learning spaces where students can take charge of their own learning—places where they can use digital tools to learn at their own pace, ask questions, and think independently.
Parent: Are you talking about community micro-schools?
Dr. Malpani: Exactly! Community micro-schools or digital learning pods are the future. They make learning accessible, affordable, and student-driven. Instead of forcing children to cram for exams, we should be equipping them with the ability to learn anything, anytime, anywhere. This will not only make them self-reliant but will also unlock India’s true potential over the next decade.
Parent: But what about underprivileged kids? Won’t they be left behind?
Dr. Malpani: That’s where the real opportunity lies. These children have the hunger to learn. Instead of wasting money on tuition classes, they can now access the world’s best tutors online with just a PC. If they learn in groups, with peers helping each other, they can become independent learners. The key is not expensive tuition but access to digital resources in a nurturing environment.
Parent: This sounds like a long-term solution. But how do we start?
Dr. Malpani: The first step is simple: take control of your child’s education. Instead of outsourcing learning to tuition centers, create a learning space at home or within your community. A digital learning pod doesn’t require much—just a few computers, internet access, and a willingness to let children explore. When kids learn together and teach themselves, they don’t just pass exams—they build skills for life.
Parent: This makes so much sense! I want to be part of this change. What can I do right now?
Dr. Malpani: Take matters into your own hands by starting your own digital learning pod—your children will not get a second chance! https://www.teachtoearn.in/start-a-teach-to-earn-learning-pod/