Parents shouldn’t pressurise children to score high marks, say educationists
“It’s not about just high marks,” claimed educationists while advising parents not to pressurise their children to score high marks in board examinations. High marks do not define a student's potential but skill, talent and areas of interest are the driving force of a students career as per experts.
Parents often feel they have the upper hand and compel students throughout the year to score high marks. Saudamani Bhagwat, a teacher said, "Parents should give liberty to their children to decide what they want to do. But while doing this parents should also make it a point to check that their children are learning through ethical ways of learning. Internships, odd jobs and workshops help students to find out their areas of interest, understand the on-ground space and analyse if they actually want to pursue a particular stream."
Teachers of schools and colleges revealed they are often bombarded by parents who are concerned about their children's academic performance. Ruchi Desai, a teacher said, "Students can manage on their own only if parents let them to be on their own. Often we find parents inquiring about the grades of children constantly untill both the child and we are exhausted. Parents got to realise students need to develop holistically with an overall development rather than just securing grades. Marks are important from the academic point of view but the interest, inclination and capabilities of a child is what matters ultimately."
As per the current trend, large number of students are scoring high marks (above 95 per cent) in various board examinations of Class 10 and 12. Arjun Shahane, a teacher said, "Nowadays, we hear about large number of students who are scoring high percentage in board exmaintions. Students even score 98 or 99.5 per cent in board ex- aminations. This makes other students and parents think that scoring high marks is necessary and a viable option. But we got to look beyond as there are multiple opportunities which can be explored even with nominal marks."
Students revealed they want to fit in the crowd but do not know what to do ahead in their career. Richa Alphonso, student said, "Even when we score high marks we are often confused about the course or stream to pursue ahead. We either decide to go abroad then." While, another student said, "Experimenting and trying our skills by working or interning with an organisation helps us to understand what we really want to do. Marks are essential but we should explore other options too."
Summer internships, volunteering work, workshops, startup, temporary jobs and field work can help students to figure out their future. An education expert said, "Parents should encourage students to experiment and perform well in various fields. Academic performance should be judged on basis of skill, knowledge and application of learning rather than just testing the memory in a three hour examination. Students should take the initiative and try their hands to understand the practical aspects of the real world."