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Maharashtra tops student-suicide list

349 students end their lives in state after failing in exams; nation-wide figure is 2,471

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India lost 2,471 young citizens in 2013 as they committed suicide after failing in examinations. This is up by 10%, as compared to the previous year. Over 2,246 students took their lives after they failed in exams in 2012.

Maharashtra topped the list with 349 student-suicides, followed by Tamil Nadu (277) and Andhra Pradesh (235), according to the latest National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) report.

More boys (1,361) committed suicide, compared to girls (1,044). In Maharashtra, 185 boys ended their lives after losing exams as compared to 164 girls.

Metro cities saw the maximum suicides. About 89 students ended their lives in Kanpur, followed by Bengaluru (74), Mumbai (53), Delhi (42) and Chennai (32).

Experts blame parental expectations without considering the child's capabilities. The principal of Hansraj Morarji Junior College, Andheri, says, "Many times, schools advise weak students to take up easy maths in class X instead of regular maths due to low skills or poor interest. But parents refuse as they want to see them as engineers, for which easy math is a disqualifier. Unable to cope with the subject, they fail in exams."

"Many parents force kids to take up science or commerce against their wish to study in the arts stream. This amounts to too much pressure on the children," he said.

Sometimes, it's the apathy of both parents and schools that are to be blamed. The fail to identify dyslexic and children with learning disablities despite consistent poor performance in academics.

"It is the responsibility of teachers to identify and sent such children for tests. Unfortunately, many of them don't do it. Some students are identified dyslexics in class X," said a principal. All schools don't have proactive teachers.

Prof Katy Gandevia, who recently retired from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, says, "No-fail policy up to class VIII is also responsible to some extent for the rise in suicides. Now, the same kids feel too much stress when they come into the ninth grade. The medium of education also adds up to the pressure. Many parents who don't know English admit their kids in English medium schools. They also send kids for tuitions without understanding their stamina, emotion and stress."

Statistics, though, doesn't give the break-up of the class of students. Experts say the age of those committing suicide has come down to as low as 9 years. Nuclear family, lack of communication between parents and children, loneliness and inability to handle pressure are believed to be the triggers.

Teachers demand more reforms in the education system. "In the US and European countries, students are given a number of choices even in schools. They pick up the subjects they like, unlike in India where almost all subjects are compulsory," says Prakash.

The Union government must address the issue at the earliest, feel parents.

Gauri Shinde, mother of two school-going children, says, "Hope new HRD minister Smriti Irani would look into it as she herself is a mother. The CBSE board has brought reforms like the abolishment of board exams but state boards are still very rigid. A drastic change in curriculum is the need of the hour."

Students suicide in 2013
Maharashtra: 349
Tamil Nadu: 277
Andhra Pradesh: 235
West Bengal: 226
Madhya Pradesh: 218

Students suicide in 2013 (Maharashtra)
Mumbai: 53
Pune: 15
Nashik: 12
Nagpur: 19
Aurangabad: 12
Vasai Virar: 01

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