Bad academic results and suicides

Every year, a number of suicides occur in the country when results of board examinations like the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and the Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) are given.

This is because some teachers and guardians of students are obsessed with the results of students than their knowledge. They tend to pressurise children to have a very good result, rather than to motivate them for gaining knowledge and learning from it.

In the process, the mindset that "Your results will ensure your success in life" becomes strong among children. So when they do not get their desired result, they become depressed. S/he thinks that he or she has failed and there is no way out of this now.

This leads to frustration and eventually some students take their own lives. We have to change this perspective from society. Students, teachers and parents should all understand an examination cannot judge one's merit. Knowledge is not only linked with academic results.

Students should understand that life is not about giving up after a failure. Maybe, they have failed in one examination. They will get chances to do better in future examinations of their lives. These can be academic, professional and personal.

Hasan Tasnim Shaon

University of Dhaka

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