Student suicide cases
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Issues calling for attention
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Nitin Gupta
The recent suicide cases by IIT students are an indicator towards the deficiency in our education system and social norms which give undue importance to academic grades/processes. The recent suicide case by a final year student, Toya Chatterjee, is a sad case. Interestingly, she had got calls form all of the 6 IIMs! As reported, IIT-K has faced 5 suicide cases in last 5 years. The "sometimes harsh grading system" and "poor grievance redressal mechanism" are also to blame.
Social isolation
It is ironical that in this age of social networking websites, many students live a reclusive life. Addiction to Internet and self-centred approach often aggravates the problem. College life is supposed to be the most enjoyable and learning period for any student. The "distressed student" must be noticed immediately and proper counselling must be provided. However the best assistance can come from family, friends and batch mates. Participation in extra-curricular activities must be made mandatory and not just "add-ons". Undue importance accorded to academic processes/grades - is a serious issue. Failing in an exam or a subject is not the end of the world. Also the education should not become a stressful exercise.
College authorities should identify the electives which most students find difficult. Mostly, failure in tackling these "tough electives" leads to suicides. Technical education must give adequate weightage to humanities and some leniency must be observed in case of difficult electives. The decline in interest in humanities and pure sciences is already disturbing.
Alternative choices
In fact some students take career decisions against their liking or natural inclination. This thing doesn’t stop even after 10+2. Thereafter often the career choices are governed by one’s performance in Entrance examination and future prospects rather than one’s preferences. So a guy securing AIR 2000 in IIT-JEE may settle for less preferred branch (say Metallurgy) in his favourite IIT than to go for his favourite branch (say IT, Electronics etc.) at one of the NITs. Many IITians end up being successful novelists, film makers, entrepreneurs, etc. The reason is quite simple. An engineering or any other professional course helps in nurturing a matured and analytical mind that can be applied in any domain. Some popular examples come are Ram Gopal Verma (civil enginner), Nagesh Kuknoor (chemical engineer), Anil Kumble ( engineer), Chetan Bhagat (IIT-D alumni), Palash Sen ( MBBS).
A student must be given enough space to groom himself and choose his career. Students need not limit their choices to their field of graduation. Peer pressure, parent’s expectations, family problems and placement worries often add to the problem, and some may even resort to bad habits (smoking, drugs, etc.) or may develop behavioural problems (low self-esteem). Lost in academic rigours they often miss out the bigger picture of life.The best comes from a person who works in unrestrained environment. Our decision makers and educationists must take some action to ensure that cases of suicide, depression among students decline.
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