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16 Aug 2023 15:05

Joined:	18/10/2008
Level:	Platinum
Points:	261708

Points:	5

NEET, JEE and all those entrance exams - Burdening not just students

It was very distressing to read a report in TOI yesterday that a NEET aspirant's father committed suicide two days after attending the funeral of his son who had committed suicide on not clearing NEET after two attempts. The father, a resident of Tamil Nadu, was a single parent and the news report stated that he spoke about fighting the education system that puts pressure on students. Elsewhere, in Kota in Rajasthan, a fourth suicide this month of a JEE aspirant was reported, and it was the 22nd of this year.

What aspect of entrance exams in India puts so much pressure on not only students but their families, too? Is it the hallowed aura that is given to engineering and medical streams? Is it the marking system of cut-offs that requires ridiculously high percentile ranks to ensure admission? Or is it both?

Isn't it time to overhaul our academic system for admissions to ensure it is not percentages and ranks that matter?

#774610

16 Aug 2023 15:44

Joined:	02/06/2009
Level:	Diamond
Points:	145277

Points:	5

In my opinion, the issue is not with the system. The issue is with the aspiration of the parents and their wards.

All human beings are not having the same IQ or EQ or wisdom. It varies from person to person. All human beings can't put in the same hard work. The capabilities will also vary from person to person. That is why all students can't get the same percentage. Some will get a higher percentage and some will get lower. So it is the responsibility of the parents to see what is the calibre of his/her children and accordingly, they should decide what course they should study.

But many parents these days think their children should get a seat in IIT or AIIMS only. All parents want their children to get the first rank in all the entrance examinations. This attitude is the main reason for this type of problem. When the child is not interested also some parents force them to appear for these entrance tests. Once parents understand the limitations of their children and get satisfied with their performance, I think such incidents may not happen.

drrao
always confident

#774612

16 Aug 2023 16:05

Joined:	02/06/2009
Level:	Diamond
Points:	145277

Points:	5

If we stop entrance tests and allow admissions based on the marks obtained in the qualifying examinations also, there will be some students who will have such frustration. Then also there will be some parents with such frustration. Then what should be the criterion for admission to higher studies? All can't be given seats in the courses they wanted.
We are hearing about students from IITs committing suicide. There may be many reasons. When an individual is not having the desired capability to understand and absorb the subject definitely frustration will crop up and lead to unwanted happening like this only. So testing the capabilities of a student is a must for admitting them to higher studies. How to do it is the question? As far as my thinking goes there are two ways. One is to take the marks they have obtained in the qualifying examinations and the other is to conduct an entrance test.

drrao
always confident

#774613

16 Aug 2023 19:43

Joined:	25/11/2014
Level:	Diamond
Points:	43257

Points:	5

We need to understand the root cause of the frustrations of both the parents and their children in case they are not able to qualify NEET, IIT or other competitive tests such as IIM. We have to accept the fact whatever parameters are introduced to assess the potentials of the candidates for a particular test, very few will succeed ultimately be it qualifying marks or otherwise.
Though the seats for both Engineering and Medical in the premier institutions are being raised year wise to take care of maximum induction of the aspirants but there is a limit beyond which the authorities cannot go ahead for uptake of the students whatever system we would follow.
If the number of aspirants constitutes lakhs of students for the different competitive tests and the seats to be filled up for such tests have exceeded the threshold number, both the guardians and wards should have the complacent attitude.
Only an optimistic attitude can help them. If we go by the candidates having cracked different tough competitive tests but later they have opted different services- not connected to the employers but doing for their satisfactions. It is their perspectives to lead their lives. I would not tell them to behave like Chetan Bhagat who did not choose the technocrat - job despite being one of top rankers in IIT. There is always the scope of doing excellence in the life if the steps are taken up prudently.

#774617

17 Aug 2023 06:00

Joined:	10/12/2016
Level:	Diamond
Points:	109208

Points:	5

The mind set of people in our country is peculiar in the sense that everyone wants their children to become doctor or engineer or administrative officer. There is nothing wrong in thinking like that but if we consider the population of our country and the competition for seats for coveted courses in the universities then it is not possible that everyone gets selected in such courses.
Our social structure is such that it discourages for going through some certificate or diploma courses and settle for some sort of self employment or a job in small companies.
There is nothing wrong in setting height targets but one has to consider one's basic capacity and intelligence to cope up with hard work to achieve such objectives.
The unfortunate thing today is that parents are more bothered for the success of their children than the child himself. Parents should think on realistic basis and guide the child accordingly.

Knowledge is power.

#774652

21 Aug 2023 17:28

Joined:	15/01/2018
Level:	Gold
Points:	10780

Points:	4

Different individuals have different enduring levels. The thing is fewer have got fewer of this leading to unexpected & unimagined outcomes.

Consulting may help reduce this, but human behavior is such a complex phenomenon that 100% can not be predictable resulting we may have to witness this from time to time. The major reason I see here is the gap between the demand and supply of the applicants and the opportunities available in the market. If there are as many applicants as there are opportunities available then no issues but the thing is that this is never possible.

Sad but is the truth.

#774655

21 Aug 2023 22:00

Joined:	03/03/2011
Level:	Gold
Points:	10278

Points:	5

I am in support of the fact that we do need to overhaul our complete education system, which has been burdening students and parents as well. I feel the burden begins from the KG level up to higher education. Some schools (mostly private schools, I am not aware of the government schools since they have started the concept of KG recently) conduct interviews for KG admissions for parents. Let me come to the point of whether entrance exams like NEET/JEE/CAT, etc., are necessary. Do these exams really measure the capabilities of the students appearing for these entrance exams in a fair or transparent manner? Not at all, I suppose. If the entrance exams are the gateway to assess the students' efficiency, then there is no need for board exams. Instead, the system can go for direct entrance exams at schools themselves as in campus interviews conducted in colleges/universities.

Moreover, there is so much disparity in our country with diversified cultures, languages, regions, etc., and students are from different financial setups, and the education facilities are not equally spread across the country. There have been plenty of schools without proper infrastructure and even some children from rural areas are still studying under streetlights.

#774664

22 Aug 2023 20:18

Joined:	02/06/2009
Level:	Diamond
Points:	145277

Points:	4

# 774655, I agree that there is no need for entrance examinations and seats for higher studies can be allotted based on the board examination marks. It was the system that was in force during the 1960s and 1970s.
Even then all students will not get seats in the colleges and subjects they wanted. They have to make a compromise and select the best possible. One should be on the ground and accept realities. One should not get stressed unnecessarily and worry. That is not going to solve the problem. Whatever may be the evaluation system, all students can never score equally, I feel.

drrao
always confident

#774665

22 Aug 2023 23:19

Joined:	10/07/2018
Level:	Gold
Points:	33389

Points:	5

It's depressing to note about the suicide of the student and then of the parent and there are a couple of reasons behind this. Yes, there is ofcourse some lacking in the education system and the capabilities of the individual students must be found during the formative years. If this filtration is not done in the beginning then it is bound to create some problems and we will hear such news of students' suicide every year. The number of such suicides is increasing every year and depression associated with the performance in the exam is the main reason. The role of the parents to reduce student suicide is vital. Still, if parents themselves are confused and have equally high aspirations for their children without acknowledging the reality then it's tough.

The stream of the student can be selected much earlier and there must be a Plan B if Plan A fails. The education system must provide an atmosphere for each individual to grow in all dimensions of life but if it promotes unhealthy competition among students then the lacking in the system must be addressed. Yes, a large section of parents want their children to become engineers, doctors, etc so that they can earn a fat pay package but unfortunately, many do not want them to grow into full-fledged human beings which is essential. The education system itself has to address this social malaise and then only we can expect some change. Since childhood, in most families, it's marks, ranks and high pay-package. It continues with the associated depression and ultimately there is an explosion. After each explosion, we begin to think and after a couple of days, we just forget.

Sankalan

"Life is easier when you enjoy what you do"

#774676

23 Aug 2023 19:27

Joined:	25/11/2014
Level:	Diamond
Points:	43257

Points:	4

It was really a distressing news reflecting the heightened tensions of the students preparing for the different competitive tests and even their parents remain over optimistic about the success of their children at all the costs. They don't discuss the other side including the failures. What we need to convey messages to our children that this is not the ultimate solution to lead a successful life. They should tell their children regarding second options in case they fail to achieve success in their main mission. Such a message will definitely create a positive impact among the mindset of the students. The parents need to quote several examples supporting their secondary plans honestly in the true sense.

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NEET, JEE and all those entrance exams - Burdening not just students

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