Exams Can Fail, Not Society!

A fortnight ago, while I was working late in the office, a colleague called, visibly distressed. An adolescent from their family had left home after an altercation over his 12th class exam results. As a parent myself, I could only imagine the anguish the family must have been going through. I immediately alerted my police colleagues, and thanks to the swift intervention of the Commissionerate of Police and the Transport Commissioner, the boy was safely traced to a distant railway station, having boarded a long-distance train. In those few critical hours, anything could have happened, from falling into the wrong hands to taking extreme steps by the boy. Sadly, such stories aren’t rare. If one pays attention, almost every day, especially after board exam results are announced, corner of the newspapers carry such tragic news of young lives lost or missing. For many families, Class 10 and 12 results are seen as defining moments in life, leading to severe pressure on students.

- SMT USHA PADHEE

Come April and May, newspapers overflow with advertisements from educational institutions showcasing smiling students with near-perfect scores. While these faces are celebrated, the students who succumb to pressure, unable to bear humiliation or the weight of expectations, quietly disappear from public memory. Having served as the Education Secretary in the State for three years, I have witnessed first-hand the silent trauma endured by students and their families. Every child has the potential to do well in life, provided they are emotionally supported and allowed to grow at their own pace. It’s unfair to believe that a poor academic score condemns a student to failure in life. In fact, like in nature, late bloomers often grow to be the strongest, most resilient individuals.

The challenges are even steeper for differently-abled students, who often lack access to trained special educators or inclusive systems. Yet, in our relentless race for academic excellence, we often forget to nurture confidence and creativity. The alarming rates of adolescent suicides, with studies suggesting that every sixth adolescent has contemplated it at least once, are a grim reminder of what's at stake.