DNA Edit: Beating exam stress

India has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, and a majority of those taking the extreme step belongs to the age group of 15-29, stated a 2012 Lancet report.

According to NCRB’s 2015 data, every hour one Indian student ends up committing suicide. Against this backdrop, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to schoolchildren in Delhi, with lakhs of students listening in from various parts of the country, assumes critical importance.

No PM had tackled the issue of exam stress even when it has been wrecking the lives of youngsters. Exam ki baat hit all the right notes. Right from the start, the PM steered clear of yawn-inducing clichés; his speech drew substantially from his rich repository of experiences.

He wasn’t doling out advice from the pulpit, which most parents and elders end up doing. That’s invariably counter-productive. The PM engaged with young minds, using a language and style they would understand and appreciate.

Sample this: “Self-confidence is very important. There is no pill or herb that offers instant confidence. We have to build it every day.” One major takeaway from the PM’s speech is an oft-overlooked but extremely important aspect of parenting.

Parents should not put unnecessary pressure on their children and compare them with their peers. They should also not force their dreams on their progeny. Every child is different. It is important to figure out what a child is good at.

This can come about only when parents become friends with their children. In India, particularly, most students are burdened by the unrealistic ambitions of their parents. Exam stress mostly stems from the fear of not being able to live up to the targets.