New Delhi, Aug. 3 -- A quiet but significant shift is unfolding in India's troubled education sector. While schools and colleges continue to enrol students, classrooms, particularly in higher secondary schools and colleges, are becoming increasingly empty.

At the same time, private reading rooms which are often mistakenly referred to as 'libraries' are witnessing an unprecedented surge in popularity. Many students now prefer spending their academic days in these study spaces rather than attending regular classes.

Although reading rooms provide a peaceful environment for self-study, the growing culture of substituting classrooms with reading rooms raises serious concerns about the future of education.

Education has never been confined t...