Prioritising student well-being over performance

FOR TOO LONG, WE HAVE CELEBRATED ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS WHILE IGNORING THE HUMAN COST

- Bhaskar Nath Biswal

In a country where academic success is often seen as the ultimate measure of a person’s worth, the tragic and alarming rise in student suicides has forced a long-overdue reckoning.

The Supreme Court, in a powerful and compassionate judgement, has shattered the silence surrounding this mental health crisis. By stepping in to mandate comprehensive mental health support in all educational institutions, the Court has not just delivered a legal ruling; it has issued a moral clarion call, signaling that the lives and well-being of our students are paramount. This landmark decision recognises a grim reality: the relentless pressure to succeed, particularly in competitive exams like the NEET, has created a pressure cooker environment where a young person’s emotional safety is often an afterthought.