Not failure, fear of post-exam humiliation driving Kota suicides: Experts

Lakhs of students come to Rajasthanrsquos coaching hub Kota every year with dreams of getting into some of the countryrsquos most prestigious colleges but many soon find themselves bogged down by hectic routines peer pressure and the burden of expectations according to expertsItrsquos not the fear of failing an exam but its ldquoaftermathrdquomdashinsult and humiliationmdashwhich pushes them to end their lives the experts saidThe recent suicides of three students preparing for competitive exams here have triggered a fresh debate over the factors that prompt students to take the extreme step At least 14 students studying in coaching centres here have committed suicide this yearStudents often find it harder to cope with the emotional stress more than the stress of studies Dr Harish Sharma principal psychologist at Allen Career Institute told PTIldquoAcademicsrelated stress among students is not as high as emotional stress The students are not actually afraid of failing an exam but of its aftermathmdashinsult and humiliation So they prefer to go into escapist moderdquo he saidAlso Read Rajasthan Man kills aunt chops body into pieces parts dumped at different placesThe burden of expectations of others clubbed with that of their own is often what demotivates students he addedldquoThe parenting style is the same as it was in the 1970s while the child has a modern brain of 2022 and demands a scientific explanation for whatever he is asked to do At times parents make their child do something that he or she may not want to do The burden of expectations of others as well as their own demotivates childrenrdquo he saidBacktoback lectures test series a constant race to outdo onersquos peers and trying to keep pace with the curriculumthis is what the average day of a student studying in a Kota coaching centre looks likeDr Chandra Shekhar Sushil head of Department of Psychiatry New Medical College Hospital said instead of pushing their children to become doctors and engineers parents should make their children take an aptitude test and then decide whatrsquos best for themldquoI do not believe coaching institutes have much of a role in student suicides We have to admit that JEE and NEET are very tough exams and hence the teaching and learning is also supposed to be of the same level ldquoHowever taking an aptitude test before sending students to Kota is very important Some parents forcibly send their children here because they want their children to become doctors or engineers and do not consider the fact whether they are capable of doing it or notrdquo he saidldquoChildren are often worried about facesaving if they do not clear the exam They need to be counselled that there is life beyond engineering and medicine and there are several career options available to choose fromrdquo he addedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever