A couple of weeks ago, a student at one such coaching centre committed suicide by hanging himself in the hostel. No suicide note was found at the scene. This incident has taken the number of students who have committed suicide in the first four months of this year to eight. As per data available, 15 students committed suicide in 2022, 18 students committed suicide in 2019, 20 students committed suicide in 2018, seven students committed suicide in 2017, 17 students committed suicide in 2016 and 18 committed suicide in 2015. Such incidents seem to be very common every year in Kota, which is a hub for aspiring students who want to crack various competitive exams.
When 27 students committed suicide in Kota last year, the district administration and the coaching class management held several meetings to find a temporary solution. Several activities were undertaken, such as installation of spring-loaded fans in the hostels, provision of accommodation to visiting relatives of the students, etc. However, the situation hasn’t changed. Concerned authorities are now investigating if there were violations of these guidelines by the hostel where the recent incident took place.
A common man’s child cannot afford to study in Kota. Even so, some poor families after selling their land and farms send their children, who aspire to become doctors and engineers, to study in these classes. Students not only have the pressure of repaying the debts, but they also have to be able to overcome many challenges such as the rules of classes and the further admission to the assessment in different tests. When the student’s ability to sustain such pressures declines, he or she takes the extreme step. But this is not the sole reason. Though this problem is limited to Kota, other States cannot afford to ignore it. If this issue is not addressed seriously, we may be desensitised to this great tragedy among our youth. Why are these young people taking such extreme steps to end their lives?
Students can be trained to de-prioritize some negative forces like family pressure, but surely there are other factors which can be controlled by examination boards and regulatory authorities. This is the most important change that needs to be implemented. The student should be given more importance rather than the exam or the marks scored. The examination policy should be prepared keeping in mind the interest of the students.
The harsh and sometimes inhumane methods used by these coaching centres leave many youngsters depressed. Those who pass these tests often forgo their adolescence for relentless preparation. Though they gain academic knowledge, they often lack the necessary social skills. These institutions are often run in substandard facilities. They rob students of their childhood and literally kill the development of their personality. Students and parents are falling prey to coaching centres’ promises of success. However, they are disappointed to find that the quality of education and students’ preparedness is not improving. According to a report, the turnover of the coaching class business in Kota is Rs 10,000 crore.
Students actually spend 12 years of their life in school. Rather than literally throwing these students in a competitive market directly, the government schools should be strengthened by hiring good teachers and providing good infrastructure to students. Private schools can take care of these requirements. National Education Policy’s emphasis on schools is a good thing, but schooling should be given importance. Exams like the recently introduced Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate courses should bring the 12 years of hard work of students at par with CBSE and other boards. If required, a Common Entrance Test may also be considered, but only if necessary.
Entrance exams should encourage a personal interview component where students are encouraged to talk about things that they are good at. The Class 12 board exam must give due importance to the talents and abilities of each student through a personal interview. Exams like JEE or NEET should only be a medium. Given the fierce competition for even half a mark in these exams at present, this system is only creating factories to produce winning players.
Obviously, the huge stress to be a winner is affecting the students, forcing them to end their lives in a maze of despair and extreme pessimism. This is a matter of great concern for a country with young power. Hence, there’s need for serious and urgent attention so that students are not driven to despair.
