Grades pressure leaves all feeling degraded

After the hassle for results and admissions, the stress levels of parents and students remain the same even after schools have reopened.

Students are expected to perform exceptionally well throughout the year to meet society’s standard of grades, which often ranges from 95 to 100 per cent. With parents adding to the pressure, students sometimes resort to drastic measures.

The education system is rigid. Students are expected to perform brilliantly in subjects regardless of their interest or talent. It is important to encourage a system that promotes holistic development of students that is not based on grades alone. “There is a lack of awareness on the importance of counselling for both students and parents. Schools must regularly let parents know about their child’s progress and ask them to encourage their child’s talent. A certain amount of pressure is needed to encourage students but pressuring them more than required will not get results,” said Ms Seema Agarwal, a counsellor.

The stress on parents often leads to them taking it out on their wards.

At the Hyderabad Schools Parents Association campaign against the hike in school fees, the tension of parents was palpable.

“Children need a healthy environment to grow. Today, dinner table conversations revolve around the amount of money to be paid for fees. This leads to children feeling guilty of being a burden.

“Parents tend to pressurise their kids because they want to get full value for their money. As the schools do not notify the parents about their child’s development, they are just becoming a money-minting machine. How can a healthy environment be guaranteed for students and parents in these circumstances,” she said.

An education system that doesn’t view students based on their grades should be encouraged. With schools promoting extra-curricular activities, it is a leap forward, however, the general conception of grades being used as a yardstick to measure success is yet to be brought to a stop. Ms M. Lalitha, additional secretary of the TS school education department said, “It is important for the students to be relieved from stress while they study. However, our education system is an outdated one and building up a new one requires a lot of planning and time.”

WITH schools promoting extra-curricular activities, it is a leap forward. However, the general concept of academic grades as the final yardstick is yet to be shown the door.