Unable to cope with the stress, several NEET and JEE aspirants decided to end their lives to ease their pain. Without judging their decision, the first thing to consider is why did this happen?
None of us can feel the pain and all the trauma they have suffered. Students concerns about failing to fulfill their parents’ dreams of being educated especially if he or she is the only hope for a family, is something that no one wants.
After the Supreme Court rejected the plea of students and parents seeking postponement of the exam due to COVID-19, many social activists, and political leaders held massive protests demanding postponement of the NEET and JEE entrance examinations on the grounds of the pandemic, citing holding the exams could threaten the lives of lakhs of students during the prevailing deadly situation.
No matter what life throws at you, we must use the power of our senses to relieve stress on the spot and stay calm, productive, and focused. All of us have heard of this clichè often said to encourage people who are feeling down, a bit depressed, lonely or self-pitying. But is it enough to console someone with this kind of thought? It is time that everyone should come up with solutions, not thoughts.
Conducting NEET and JEE exams amidst pandemic was cruel, insensitive, and baseless. What will they do with degrees or certificates when life does not exist.
A large number of students were struggling with online classes, protests on social media sparked against the conduct of NEET and JEE exams. Demands for the same hit the skies on Twitter, but despite the social media protests and digital campaign, the government decided to hold the exams as per schedule in September.
Despite knowing the student’s difficulties, the Supreme court dismissed the plea of postponing exams. However, the decision could have been pragmatic. As a result, many have killed themselves, many were failed to reach the exam center as public vehicles stayed off amid pandemic and lockdown, many faced difficulties coping with online lessons from home during the crisis.
Actually, the problem was not only in taking exam amid coronavirus but the list of problems is also incorporated with unfocused issues such as facing problems while studying through online classes, which may be due to lack of internet facilities, electricity or laptops; or lack of knowledge related to computer systems; or finding tough to reach test center’s amid pandemic as public transports were remained restricted at many places because of rising COVID cases.
There is no doubt that the government managed to conduct the exams under the precautionary measures and guidelines, but what about the students who died due to this decision? What about those, who would have done well in a normal situation but due to depression or stress caused by the situation of the coronavirus, failed to qualify the exam?
From an academic point of view, the Supreme Court has rightly stated that the career of students “cannot be put in peril for long” but what about their lives. ‘When there is life, there is hope’, I think this phrase still needs to be understood by peoples who don’t care about the precious lives of others.
Many students saw their dedication to learn and gain education as a secure path in order to free themselves from the chains of prejudice and penury. However, this year has been an awful setback to their dreams. Students have been working hard all year to achieve success. Therefore, in addition to paying attention to the development of the education system, the government should also take some effective measures to reduce student suicides, rather than just make headlines in newspapers.
The views expressed above are author’s own.
