The teenage-adolescence trauma has been enough; now they have to deal with an uncertain future
Class Twelfth is in testing times. The class 12th kids are going through a tussle between their mind, heart and the world. They don't know what awaits them; they don't know what other tests they have to qualify before making themselves a part of the adult society.
The teenage-adolescence trauma has been enough that now they have to deal with an uncertain future. The competitive twelfth class is what most of us have faced, but I would suggest that this pressure starts from earlier grades.
The pressure to choose the right career path, suitable subjects and future clarity is already on the move, increasing multi-folds as we reach 18.
The research for this article made me go through the experiences of the 2021 batch and made me nostalgic for the anxiety I went through during this time. The questions of, what will happen if I fail? Have I chosen my passion? How will my family react if my results are not very good? If I don't perform now, is my career over? These uncertainties, mentally stress, anxieties have only increased with the postponementof board exams due to Covid-19.
There are differences in the experiences of students from cities, optional subjects and examination boards. Someone appearing for IIT JEE is eagerly waiting for exams to occur, irrespective of online or offline conditions. Some are fearing it and want it to be done only in online mode or cancelled. Some are relaxed and just happy to be home with their loved ones. Akshat from Indore says, "When I was taught online throughout the year, why should I give the exams offline?"
There is a section of 'well to do' families who can send their children for higher studies outside India. However, due to the untimely expected availability of twelfth board results, many dropped their plans to study overseas. The students of small cities faced little fear of corona because there were not many cases that would make them fearful.
The students who were kept shielded under the pretext of board exams now had to face the brunt of real-life problems. If someone got infected with the virus, they had to take care of the family; they had to deal with mental stress within the limited space of the house; there was limited interaction with peer group due to restricted movement. The different examination board came up with variety in their exam format; in West Bengal, the 10th board exams have shifted to August. When CBSE has asked for getting the internal assessment done and promoting class 10th students, it would be difficult for class 10th students of West Bengal to move to any other part of the country or world. For class 12th, Chattisgarh Board has devised an exclusive system to allow students to take home question papers and answer sheets and submit them before the decided date. Some opinion on this step is contradictory, Prachi from Raipur says, it is unfair for those who have worked hard throughout the year.
The online system of learning is not very practical for many students. Harshita from Delhi says it was difficult to concentrate in class, let alone learn from them. Many teachers found it difficult to teach from newly introduced online tools. The limed interaction between student and teacher has diminished the cordial connection; hence many under-confident and shy students could not ask their doubts after class. Unfortunately, some students were unable to afford online coaching classes to improve their results.
There is a shortage of the vaccine in the country, vaccinating the students and the exam staff on priority. But many class 12 students will not turn 18 before their exams and hence are out of the vaccine coverage. Everyone has an opinion about what and when an exam should happen in class 12 but are we prepared to test them without ensuring the actual learning is the question we need to ask our system.
The students are fearful, so are parents of the future and their capabilities. The schools should be the centre for counselling and psychological support. The wave of fear in young minds is a reflection of our education system that reflects our society, which in turn relies on assessments. The class 12th exams become a matter of life and death. This is a time when we can overhaul our system in benefit of students. As a progressive society, we can make them empathetic, rather than competitive. Otherwise, we will still be left with an education system, that relies on tests rather than learning.
(Aanehi is PhD Researcher, Centre for South Asian Studies, School of International Studies, JNU. Shubhang is director, Rathi Public School, Morena. The views expressed are personal.)