Today young students - mostly teenagers commit suicide if they fail or fare miserably in the exams...

In India, every year around in the month of June/July the results of the board examinations are out i.e. (the 11^th and 12^th grade). These exams are very important as their marks are counted for admissions in a good college. Even points of difference in the percentage can cause a lot of difference.

During these months we hear various cases of students committing suicides if they fail in the exams or fare miserably. Some commit suicides even before the results are declared because they are sure they will fail or will just clear the exams. This is a horrible situation. Why should one end his life just because he has failed in a mear board exams? And it is even more ridiculous to end ones life even before the results are out, assuming he will fail in the exam.

I keep wondering what makes these students take such a drastic action. Does this show they are cowards?

I sat thinking for a while what would be the possible reasons why students committed suicides in India and came up with these possible reasons:

• The existing educational system:

• There are various loopholes in today's educational system in India. The syllabus is strictly written. One has to know the textbooks very well and if possible understand the content or other wise just learn the answers with out understanding it. This is because there is a lot of stress on theory and not on particle work. Some of the textbooks are never updated. We have been studying the textbooks, which were written 10 years ago. In short students lose interest in their studies, as it is very boring, monotonous and tedious.
• The purpose of the educational system is not specified. In spite of spending lots of money for a good education and finishing the graduation still many students don't get a job. At the end of the day aren't you studying for standing up on your own feet, so that you can earn your living? Then why does one not get a reasonable job after finishing one's education?

• Pressure of Parents and Teachers:

• There is a lot of pressure on the students from the teachers and parents. The student is very tensed with all this pressure. To some extent it is the teachers and parents right to guide and advise the child. But they SHOULD not force the child to do something, which he does not like. They should be aware of their child's capacity and not expect too much from their child. It should be in the limits of the child's capacity.
• They should not compare their child with anyone else's child or even his/her sibling. No one is the same. Everyone is unique. So the parents and teachers have no right to compare their child.

• Pressure of the society:

• Today there is lot of pressure of the society on the parents. Sometimes parents feel a big blow is given to their self-esteem if their child fails or gets very bad marks in these crucial exams. So they emotionally torture their child which, is also one of the reasons why the child may commit suicides.
• There are fights between friends or peers, on who is more intelligent than the other this also causes emotional stress and frustration on the child so he commits suicide when it becomes intolerable.

• Competition:

• As we all know competition is increased tremendously. Lot of pressure is on the student to prove his/her worth in the world.

• Loss of self-confidence:

• Sometimes students lose the faith within themselves. This is if they are constantly failing or because they only hear criticism from their teachers and parents. Due to this they feel that they are hopeless and cannot do anything in life.
• Another reason can be, that thought their parents don't force their children to study or don't expect anything from them still the child wants to be perfect and keeps forcing himself to study.
• When this frustration is unbearable they end their life.

These are some of the reasons I think why Students commit suicide in India. I also thought of the possible solutions for this problem.

1. We should bring some reforms in the educational system. Try and make the syllabus more friendly and interesting. Lay stress on overall development of a student. Change the assessment system in the board exams. Change the educational system in such a way that its purpose is specified. That it can ensure, that the student can and will be able to stand on his feet.
2. Secondly we need to talk to all the students who are giving the exams and tell them that the board exams is not the end of the world. We should make them aware of all the possible options available even if they fail in the exams.
3. There should be proper counseling facilities available so that these students can get help when they need it.
4. The parents should not compare them with another student; they should motivate them, stand by them, know the limits of their student's capabilities and not expect more from them. They should not connect their self-esteem and their child's performance in the exam.
5. The teachers should motivate the child from time to time. They should not keep criticising him all the time but advice them in a friendly way.
6. The student should believe in himself and keep in mind that he was born to do something in this world. He should not lose hope.

These are the possible solution.

This article has three parts to it. This the 1^st one. In the 2^nd part I have taken a survey to see if this problem prevails in other countries. The 3^rd part is a talk with a children's psychiatrist who will share her thoughts on the issue.

So if you enjoyed reading this part of the article do check out the 2^nd and 3^rd part.