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 what they are paying for. Many families sell land, take loans, or cut down on daily expenses to enroll their children because they feel they have no other option.

Inside the classrooms, the picture often changes. Students sit in crowded halls and receive limited attention. Some institutes rely more on their public image than on strong teaching. Parents continue to trust them because they want to believe in a promise. Coaching has become a race that rewards those who can pay more, not those who can learn better.

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