E-Paper
Change mindset, save schoolchildren, say activists in MP
Four student suicides in less than a month. Little has improved in Madhya Pradesh where 645 students ended their lives in 2014, educationists and activists say.
Four student suicides in less than a month. Little has improved in Madhya Pradesh where 645 students ended their lives in 2014, educationists and activists say.
On Tuesday, Aditya Singh, 16, a Class XI student of Delhi Public School (DPS), was found hanging from a slider in a park in front of his house in Red Square Colony.
Activists feel a change in the people’s mindset is needed utmost to stop young minds from wilting under pressure.
Every school should have a psychosocial counsellor for students: Nirmala Buch
“The death of the class 11 student should be taken seriously both by parents and school administration. Parents, school administration and society should not build unnecessary pressure on students. If the students want to choose something else over study, they should be allowed to do so,” former state chief secretary and Child Rights Observatory chairperson Nirmala Buch says.
“A prime reason behind the suicide of students is lack of counselling. Every school should have a psychosocial counsellor for students. Counselling and guidance are necessary for teenagers to help them cope up pressure.”
Two decades ago, government-appointed counsellors – mostly psychologists – were assigned for schools and district education offices, Buch says. “There is an urgent need to restart appointments of counsellors because they don’t only read minds of students but also helped them to achieve success.”
For RTI activist, ‘double standard’ by parents is a strict no-no. “On one side, parents praised Lata Mangeshkar and Sachin Tendulkar but demotivate children when they show interest in their idols. This double standard should be addressed properly,” RTI activist Rolly Shivhare says.
Recently, a third year engineering student committed suicide for ‘failing’ to live up to the expectations of her parents. In her suicide note, the Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT) student wrote home sickness was troubling her studies.
Parents’ expectations put extra burden on children: Zamiruddin
“Parents don’t have enough time to sit and discuss with children their problems but want to see their wards excel in studies. Parents also need counselling because their expectations put extra burden on children. A constant performance comparison is pushing students to the brink,” educationist Professor Zamirruddin says.
