Akash Sampurnanand Pandey Says JEE Coaching Teachers Are ‘Leftovers’, Internet Splits Over Viral Claim
A social media post by IIT-BHU graduate Akash Sampurnanand Pandey has triggered a heated debate over the role and reputation of JEE coaching teachers. His claim that many coaching instructors are 'leftovers' of campus placement season has gone viral, dividing opinion on whether teaching at coaching institutes is a fallback career or a respected profession in its own right.
A social media post by IIT-BHU graduate Akash Sampurnanand Pandey has triggered a heated debate over the role and reputation of JEE coaching teachers. His claim that many coaching instructors are "leftovers" of campus placement season has gone viral, dividing opinion on whether teaching at coaching institutes is a fallback career or a respected profession in its own right.
What Did Akash Sampurnanand Pandey Say?
The discussion began after Pandey shared his changing perception of JEE coaching teachers from his school days to his time as an IIT graduate.
According to him, many students initially view IIT coaching faculty as exceptionally talented mentors capable of simplifying complex concepts. However, he argued that after graduating from IIT, students realise that several coaching teachers are graduates who did not secure top corporate placements and eventually turned to teaching. ‘You’re Better Off Not Going to University’: Saurabh Mukherjea Says Class 12 Passouts May Earn More Than Graduates in India.
Akash Sampurnanand Pandey Says JEE Coaching Teachers Are 'Leftovers'
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
But by the end of IIT, you realize the truth: they were the leftovers in the placement season. Tier 2 students.
Coaching…
— Akash Sampurnanand Pandey (@late_bloomer_7) June 24, 2026
Pandey further claimed that while many IIT graduates pursue MBAs, research, startups or corporate careers, some coaching teachers continue teaching the same entrance examination syllabus for years. He concluded his post by saying, "Don't mistake the gatekeeper for the owner of the castle." Jobs Applications: 7 in 10 Indian Employees Willing To Apply for New Job Skills in Real-World Setting for Future Demands.
Social Media Divided
The post quickly gained traction on X, prompting mixed reactions.
Some users agreed with Pandey, arguing that coaching faculty primarily specialise in cracking competitive exams rather than pursuing academic research or industry careers.
Remark Sparks Debate on IIT Faculty and Coaching Culture
As someone who spend few years teaching kids for JEE, i agree with you
Few issues i saw firsthand
1. The entire coaching industry is a weird anomaly on our education system. It is just efficient money transfer to teachers. On any avg school, less than 20% costs is teachers…
— Ashish Dogra (@ashishdogradir) June 24, 2026
Teaching is a profession in itself. The one who helps kids reach IIT may hv contributed more to society than many who merely cleared IIT & chased the next credential
Not everyone standing at the gate wants to own the castle.Some choose to build the road that helps others reach it
— Santosh Kumar (@kumar_sant58020) June 25, 2026
Everyone has a destiny in life, if someone is not getting into databricks that's his fate. There's always a case in our family, someone who worked his ass off getting into his desired domain but eventually took another path in life. Is he failed ? Cheers.
— Mrinal Chaturvedi (@moon_chat7) June 24, 2026
Others strongly disagreed, saying placement outcomes do not determine teaching ability. They argued that helping students understand difficult concepts and succeed in one of India's toughest entrance examinations requires exceptional communication skills and subject expertise.
Several users also pointed out that successful researchers are not always effective teachers, while many coaching instructors have positively influenced thousands of students through their teaching.
The discussion has reignited a broader conversation on coaching culture, career choices and whether professional success should be measured solely by campus placements or the impact an individual creates through education.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 25, 2026 11:16 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
