INSTITUTIONS SHOULD GIVE LIVES, NOT DEGREES—ONLY THEN EDUCATION HAS MEANING

23-JULY-ENG 13

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------In India, educational institutions are now becoming only degree factories, where both the possibilities and sensibilities of children are dying. Cities like Kota, Hyderabad, Delhi are shaken by the statistics of suicides. This crisis is not only of examinations, but of our thinking and system – which puts rank above life. There is no place for dialogue, mental counseling and humanity in education. Till the time we do not connect education with life, this system will not prove to be successful, but will keep proving to be fatal.

The schools and colleges which were once called temples of knowledge, today the same places are slowly becoming synonymous with that pain, where not the laughter of children but tension-filled silence resonates. There was a time when the purpose of education was to make life beautiful, today education has become a burden of life. We have reached a time where students are not afraid of education, but of the structure of education. Kota, Hyderabad, Delhi, Chennai, Pune – hundreds of students commit suicide every year in so many cities. These are not just incidents, they are declarations of the defeat of our system.

The city of Kota in Rajasthan, which is today considered the centre for preparation of competitive exams, is also becoming the biggest centre of mental stress in the country. Every year lakhs of students come here with dreams of becoming doctors, engineers, administrative officers or scientists. But the cost of these dreams is so heavy that hundreds of children are unable to bear that burden and end their lives.

Studying in coaching institutes has now become a mental test. Classes from 6 am to 10 pm, homework, exams, then results - there is no way out of this labyrinth. Students have no time for sports, literature, music or conversation. There is no time for friends, no time to talk to oneself. And in such an environment, when a child fails, he considers himself unfit for life. This mentality is so deep that he cannot even think that life is not decided by just one exam.

A student's suicide is not just the end of a life, it is a harsh comment on the education system that weighs students on the scales of numbers and ranks. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, more than 13,000 students committed suicide in 2021. This number reflects the magnitude of the tragedy happening in the name of education in India. Have we ever tried to think why these children are committing suicide? Can mere failure in an exam force someone to give up life?

Actually, the problem is not the exam, the problem is the thinking in which failure is considered a stigma. Parents, society, teachers, coaching institutes - all nurture the mindset that the child who did not succeed in the competition is worthless. As a result, the child starts blaming himself and slowly goes into depression. He does not even have the courage to speak his mind to anyone.

For years, there has been a shortcoming in the education system of India that mental health has never been given priority here. Schools and colleges neither have permanent mental counsellors nor open dialogue with students. Parents also often do not understand what their child is feeling. Instead of asking children 'how are you', they are asked 'how much have you studied'.

This inhumanity of the education system has been further intensified by the commercialisation of education. Today education has become an industry, not a service. Coaching institutes do business worth crores. Their aim is only to make children successful in exams, not to make them capable in life. They make children memorise answers, they do not teach them the habit of asking questions. They create machines of success, not humans.

It is not just about coaching. There have been reports of suicides from the country's prestigious colleges and universities as well. Rohith Vemula, a research scholar, whose suicide shook the entire country, was also a victim of institutional discrimination and insensitivity. Even today, many forms of caste, social, linguistic and regional discrimination are present in our educational institutions. Students do not get mental security, emotional support, and when all avenues are closed, they decide to end their lives.

The problem is very deep and it will not be solved by just “mourning” or “regulating”. We have to redefine education. Education cannot be just a means to degrees, marks or jobs. The purpose of education should be to understand life, develop self-confidence, and maintain balance in every situation.

We have to ensure that every educational institution has permanent mental counselors. There should be an open platform for children where they can express their thoughts, feelings and problems without fear. The examination system should be such that it does not only test rote learning but also gives importance to creativity, reasoning and sensitivity.

Along with this, there is a need for strict control on coaching institutes. Their fees, timetable, examination pattern – everything should be regulated by the government. They should not be seen only from a commercial point of view, but they have to be brought under social responsibility. The government should also make a concrete policy on this subject instead of just making statements that can prevent incidents of suicide.

Parents also have to understand their role. They have to increase communication with children, they have to believe that We have to make them understand that their failure is not a crime. We have to understand that every child is unique, and everyone's definition of success cannot be the same.

It is also necessary to develop a culture of accepting failure easily in the society. We have to teach that failing in an exam does not mean failing in life. If a child is not able to succeed in an exam, there are other paths for him. This life is not just a list of ranks, it is a journey of emotions, feelings and possibilities.

Our country will be considered educated only when the educational institutions here teach children the art of living, not just the curriculum. When students come out with a purpose, not just degrees. When education connects children to their identity, not numbers.

Today the need is not that we make children "memorize books", but that we learn to give them confidence and self-respect. They have to be convinced that they are enough the way they are. Their possibilities are bigger than mark sheets, and their life is more valuable than exam results.

If we cannot do this, thousands of lights will be extinguished every year, and we will only be left regretting lighting candles. Education has to be made value-based again - where students get purpose, not just a degree; identity, not just a job; and confidence to live, not just studies.