Presently the events to felicitate the students who passed Classes X and XII are being held all over the State. Such programmes are organised at constituency and school levels while lately social workers and Ganeshotsav mandals are also coming forward to encourage the meritorious students. The marks scored during the examinations of Classes 10 and 12 do not indicate a successful future. That requires various other factors and to become a successful personality, timely guidance is a prerequisite. Commonly, the students while taking decision regarding which educational stream to opt for Class XI, marks scored during Class X are taken into consideration. However, this method is not appropriate. The students should be provided with proper guidance in accordance with their aspirations and this should begin from Class VI onwards.
Such counselling will help in erasing the done and dusted narrative that everyone has to become either a doctor or an engineer. It is more beneficial to gain knowledge when one is clear about which profession they want to pursue. Although the New Education Policy has this provision, the parents should first stop imposing their opinions and desires onto their children. The mentality that our child should achieve what I could not, has to be abandoned. More importantly, the government needs to resolve the chaotic situations which arise during the admissions. After Class XII, the admission process for the first year of the college is carried out through the website of the Directorate of Higher Education.
Many a time students who apply for admissions in the specialised streams such as pharmaceuticals, engineering and medical also apply for general streams such as Arts, Commerce and Science as a back-up plan. The admissions for pharmaceuticals, engineering and medical streams can be held first as the students have to struggle with getting their fees back which they had paid during their admissions for general streams. Not only is this time-consuming for the students and the parents, it is also mentally taxing as they have to run from pillar to post to complete the procedure.
The admissions for the general streams can be held after the admissions for specialised streams is concluded. The main issue is of utilising the educational capacity of the students and for that career guidance is extremely necessary. The ones organising the felicitation events should also consider it their duty to show students the right direction. Career guidance sessions should be held in every village. The common picture currently is that nobody is available for the jobs despite being educated. This has to be changed and through counselling, the dignity of labour has to be inculcated. The exams of Class X and XII which happened this year was a big challenge for the students as after the pandemic, it was held in its true sense. Many successfully handled the challenge and came out of it with good results. The phase of Classes X and XII exams is a turning point for many as after this phase, one decides which course they want to take. Everyone’s interests vary. Some may be interested in Arts, while some may prefer Commerce or Science.
Regardless of the subjects, the onus is on the students to give justice to the subjects they have chosen. The students and parents get caught in the confusion after clearing the secondary and higher secondary examinations. The overstressing about which stream to choose is a common problem for students and their parents. However, one needs to first take into consideration their interests and then come to the decision. The parents too should understand the interest of their child instead of being persistent about which stream they want themself. As a parent, taking care of the child, providing them quality education and attending to their needs are their prime duties. However, the students need to think for themselves as they will be the one leading their lives. Timely alertness and awareness to take appropriate decisions can be developed only through counselling. The responsibility to organise such counselling sessions is of social organisations and workers. If society comes out of the mentality that the government needs to do everything, the bright students of today will become responsible citizens of tomorrow.
