A student every hour?

[DomainK]

I am talking about the statistics from "Three Idiots" that Aamir gives Virus. A student kills himself every hour in India.A couple of days ago I went to watch the movie again. And then a bit of Googling showed that he was not far off the mark. In 2006 (latest data available), 6000 students committed suicide in India. 6000 in 8760 hours. That's almost one suicide in an hour and 15 minutes. Has our education system become that bad? Have our parents become that bad? A student thinks of suicide when he becomes really hopeless. I know that these days parents put a lot of pressure on students to stay ahead in the competition. But to such an extent where the child would commit suicide? A teacher once told me a professional is better off than a student because where a professional has to prove himself to his boss/customers/clients/ and he can come back to a loving wife, kids and friends, a student has to prove himself to teachers, class mates, parents, grand parents and he has no one to turn to for emotional help when things go a little wrong. Usually students hesitate to go to parents because they carry the guilty feeling of having let the parents down. And the parents are unbelievably demanding. They are never happy with what the child does. Constant pressure for better performance, constant comparison with other students, constant reminders of how life could be hell if he does not do better (which is usually not the case) and they usually dont fail to express the disappointment in strong words when the child falls short of the goals. When I was a student, life was easy for me. Where my parents constantly encouraged me to do well, I cant recall a single instance when I was scared of returning home after doing bad in an exam. Rather, whenever I did bad in an exam, I always looked forward to go back to my parents who would tell me that there was a next time and that they were proud of me. Everyone goes through some bad times irrespective of hard work, talent and opportunity. Parents need to support the children in such times and not further pressurize them and the leave them to deal with the pressure and depression on their immature own. Three idiots was about the IIT. So, ICF's IITians, how was life in IIT? How was the competition and the pressure?

[flamy]

Wow, makes me appreciate how lucky I am. Albeit, I did feel bad when I didn't do well on an exam, I always shared it with my parents. I have never contemplated suicide.

[Lurker]

It is dependent on your own background I suppose. If your family is working hard and sacrificing everything for your education then the expectations are high for sure. It is impossible to see your parents struggle to meet the daily needs and yet put kids through education. In lower middle class and further down the social ladder this is more of an issue, for upper middle class I doubt this is the case.

[triam]

I didnt study in IIT (got in but at the tail end only civil was available), but I did prep for that, what Lurker says is very true in my case, parents sacrificed all they cud and more (iin some cases they went without food for a day or two to get me some textboks etc) to get me a good education, so not getting into IIT with one of the fields I wanted was a major major setback for me at that time. Never contemplated suicide though, but knew a bunch of friends who did contemplate that, the pressure is incredible. Looking back, the pressure was self imposed to a big extent, one of the reasons was that you are basically surrounded by a system where the only thing that matters is getting into IIT (or getting to some prestigious medical college), and you end up believing it totally, and at that age it is easy to be so influenced. Now this is what I remind myself when the pressure becomes high at work mainly. "Even if you win the rat race, you are still a rat"

[yoda]

Now this is what I remind myself when the pressure becomes high at work mainly. "Even if you win the rat race, you are still a rat"

good one. :giggle:

[Sir john]

very sad things.

[Ram]

The 6000 number is probably not accurate. A large number of suicides do not get reported. And not every student who commits suicide does not do it because of academic pressure, there could be other reasons. But yes of course, the amount of pressure to perform in students in India is absolutely ridiculous. It was especially hard for someone like me because I studied in the most outrageously marks-obsessed school in the whole of town. The pressure to deliver is almost insane and if you fall even slightly from the established rigorous standards, then you're publicly humiliated in class, as though you just raped a minor. There were prep exams and tests almost every week, with absolutely no respite from the relentless pressure. Thankfully, my parents werent so hard on me. Sure, they were livid if I effed up a mid-term because I spent more time watching Sachin than studying for the exam, but there was no diktat to 'either excel or exit..' If you ask me, real student life stops for Indians at class 9. From class 10 onwards, you're always constantly reminded as to how you're in a rat race and how you have no option but to excel. You're told class X board exams are pivotal. If you get through 'em, then there's the looming shadow of class XII exams. Get past that, then there's the Engineering entrance examinations. Sturdy enough to endure that? Welcome to 4 years of Engineering, where you have write 6 totally new subjects every 6 months with generally pathetic teachers. The 6 year time period from the time you enter class X, to the time you graduate is the worst possible timeline in an Indian student's life.

[seedhi]

Three idiots was about the IIT. So' date=' ICF's IITians, how was life in IIT? How was the competition and the pressure?[/quote']I havent seen Three Idiots but IIT was mostly fun for me. But more to the point - I am absolutely aghast at students committing suicide in such large numbers. There is something seriously wrong about how students are pressured so much, and I witnessed it at close quarters myself. I did fairly well in IIT-JEE getting into CSE, the top branch, but I confess that my success was a mini-disaster for some of the younger lot in my close relations who were burdened with expectations of matching up to me, and were constantly compared to me in academics - which nearly ruined them. Fortunately, they all ended up fine and even though they didnt go through IIT they have done as well as many IITians would hope to. My view is that while there is definitely a disparity in the facilities, resources and teaching quality between the IITs and most of the rest of the colleges (in engineering), the marginal impact is only evident if the student wishes to pursue higher technical education such as doctorate level research abroad. Otherwise, for getting a cushy job in India it really does not make so much of a difference. We should have had at least 20 fully functional IITs in India today, I wonder why the govt stopped building new ones after the 1960s. Now they are building new ones, albeit in a very haphazard and ad hoc manner. Eventually the increased number of IITs and other colleges should ease the anxiety of students. Also, parents need to be told not to pressurize their children too much and counseling should be offered readily to them even by teachers along with the parents. One board exam or JEE or CAT is certainly not the end, life offers new opportunities every day, 365 days a year.

[punjabi_khota]

People don't laid as much if they devote most of their time studying their ass during class Xi-XII for IIT-JEE etc. Seriously though, age 16-17 is the time for experimentation with opposite sex, but most kids in India are busy solving Irodov or HC Verma or some **** like that. It is sad. :(( So the students who succeed in cracking JEE end up in IITs, where they don't get laid for another 4 years, probably have the worst food of their lives (especially a shock if they were pampered during 2 years of preparation and come from khate-peete khandaan), lose 15 kgs in one semester, and never go past second base in those 4 years. Ride bicycles through their stay, pull frequent all nighters to cope with exams and dress up like girls for female characters for performance in play/dances in cultural fests since there are no girls to take part in them. :dontknow: Damnit. But I will do it again. :woot:

[gaurav92]

There are many children who cannot cope up with the pressure that is brutally imparted on them.Parents, relatives,teachers and all those related to his education contributes heavily in shaping up the child.These activities really put some serious burden of expectations on one's shoulders and it can only be coped by someone who has the potential of scoring big, and also the skills to outoperform although there are growing complexes in ones life due to immense pressure, hard work, assistance by everyone, may it be financial or non financial.These factors contribute heavily in making a student realize that if he fails, he will be going through some serious tough time ahead.Some parents are really supporting, they back their children and say, dont think of failing, just focus on succceeding, while some say that if you fail, dont show your effing face again, these words may be said in anger, but they have seriously bad impact on mindset of the children.They go on the wrong platform, where they see "suicide" as the only solution to counter the pressure and finish the life of burden and tensions. So in my opinion, there has to be some awareness campaign cnducted by govt. t oensure that all students are free from pressur, and also advise the parents to not burden and enforce the child to perform beyond their capabilities.An example of that is my friend, he scored an average 54% in his 10th prelims, and got 70% in his Class X boards.But that was not it, suddenly when he decided to take Commerce, hgis parents told him to go for science, as they thought, Engineering was a a very nice and demanding field then.He had to kill his dream, and go for science, he with that % wasnt chosen in a good college, he had to struggle and go t oa medioker college.He then went on to score 73% in XII, the parents wanted him t ogo for IIT, he was fed up and said that he did not want to d oscience anymore, he wanted to shift to Commerce. He came to me and said that he isnt going for IIT but his parents are forcing him to go for it.I was then in 9th, and had no idea what IIT stands for :giggle:.I said, may be you must try and give it a go.He didnt look happy with my answer and moved away.He worked hard for 2 long years, and then gave it a shot.But as expected he failed.His parents had told that he should not come home with a crying face that said "He failed", he should come home smiling.Those words may be defocussed him, and he tried to bang his Motorbike into a truck, and ended up colliding with it and hurting his legs and head.He was admitted and was in a very critical situation, his parents tried their best to opearte him and get him fine, ut he was in a very serious situation.Doctors operated him and said that he will be fine but he has injured very badly, he will not be able to walk anymore, his brain cells and tissues are damaged, so he cant stress anymore, any further stress and he will be DEAD.The parents realized the condition of their child and cried a lot, and kept cursng themselves for doing this. These are some common stories in most of Indian students life, buit only few deal wit hthe pressure and say the truth, while others do not, and prefer suicide.

[CSK Fan]

The one area were the US education system scores over us is the grade system. Why do we need to differentiate betwwen 93% and 95% and 97%? Whats the point? All the above three students will be absolutely brilliant students and the difference might be just because of a few marks here and there and circumstances. Why do we need to have one clear topper? Is it a horse race?

[Nova]

The one area were the US education system scores over us is the grade system. Why do we need to differentiate betwwen 93% and 95% and 97%? Whats the point? All the above three students will be absolutely brilliant students and the difference might be just because of a few marks here and there and circumstances. Why do we need to have one clear topper? Is it a horse race?

Well said. Change is coming ---> http://ibnlive.in.com/news/class-10-exams-optional-grading-system-takes-shape/100383-3.html

[Zap_Brannigan]

Its not just in India. I am pretty sure that the suicide rate is very high among students in most of Asia. The entire continent culture has the notion that money is everything and whoever has the most money is the most successful that they completely forget about the happiness of the child. Even coming from a normal family that did not put too much pressure directly (i.e making me join IIT classes, scrutinizing every test score etc.) they still put a lot of pressure (probably unwittingly) on me. My mom would always drop lines like "if you study hard now, you will get into good college later. But if you dont, your live will be spoiled." and my dad would always compare my test score with other "friends son"(probably imaginary) who got better score. But the biggest problem is the education system itself. Instead of having practical system, they are concentrated on theory, which leads to no other option but to study hard. As much as people complain about American education system and their lack of science, i appreciate it for trying to cover more aspects of life.

[Sachinism]

The one area were the US education system scores over us is the grade system. Why do we need to differentiate betwwen 93% and 95% and 97%? Whats the point? All the above three students will be absolutely brilliant students and the difference might be just because of a few marks here and there and circumstances. Why do we need to have one clear topper? Is it a horse race?

My teacher used to always say "there are enough A's for everyone" I never understood the ranking system

[flamy]

My folks only asked me to be true to myself and put in an honest effort in anything I do. My dad did harbour dreams of IIT at one point, but then gave up. Meh, I was never interested in studies anyways, even though I was a topper in school. My engineering years were the worst for me, academically. I thoroughly enjoyed/enjoying my MS in US tho. And ya like Zap says, the whole theory-based bullcrap that is fed to us in India with the rote memorization is :wall:

[dial_100]

Life itself is very harsh compare to what we go through as student. It is a nice preparation to gear us towards the challenging life. That pressure will always be there. Only because this pressure so many kids excel in their acad. But the pressure is always there. I was dead be-sharam kid, who used to get punished all the time, until 10+2. After that I took my career seriously. But when I did, I never felt that I am missing any fun. Cuz for 18 years of my life, I had absolute fun. I can still smell the freshness in the environment that I enjoyed in those years of my life... Absolutely no pressure. At the end, my dad gave up on me when I was in Highschool II year. Cricket and school was the mantra. When I passed that age, I was fully satisfied and did lot of studies. I still remember in BSC I, I used to read the books from 9th grade to understand the basics... It evens out at the end. Parents put pressure because kids listen to their parents way too much. Respect them but do what you like guys...

[Lurker]

The one area were the US education system scores over us is the grade system. Why do we need to differentiate betwwen 93% and 95% and 97%? Whats the point? All the above three students will be absolutely brilliant students and the difference might be just because of a few marks here and there and circumstances. Why do we need to have one clear topper? Is it a horse race?

I have no problem with ranking at all. This whole grading system is effectively a means to eff up kids. The difference between a 97% and 95% student is that the former comes 1st in his class while the latter comes 2nd. This ranking is something that stays with you as a person whole life. And no I dont mean a physical rank as such but inside of you it stays with you giving you confidence when you need. A person who gets 95% is far from bad student but the 2nd position does give him incentive to be the 1st. Put 20 guys in grade A and whats the real incentive there?? Everyone does not have to be 1st in studies, you can be equally good at sports, dramatics, literature etc. I was always outside of top3 ranks in studies but aced everything else. And frankly that has stayed with me, everytime I am down I can always reach out to those times when I won something as a student and suddenly things dont seem so hard anymore. Needless to say I also hate this whole - Every child is a winner philosphy. xxx