Setting a target to achieve 100 per cent results in Delhi Government schools, Deputy Chief Minister and education minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday interacted with some of the Class XII standard students placed under ‘Essential Repeat’ category to take their feedback and assured assistance to achieve better results for next year.
Encouraging students, Sisodia, said, “This year two per cent of students have not been able to succeed. "If we look at it only as a figure, it is very less. We could have been satisfied with the 98per cent result. But, for us, these are our students, not just a mere statistical figure. Every child is important to us. This is the reason this year I am meeting those children who, for some reason, have not been able to succeed," he added.
Sisodia said, "We pay equal attention to every child. But if for some reason, someone isn’t able to get good grades, we have to have faith in them. We will have to work really hard on those students so that nobody lags behind. Mr. Sisodia said that many times failures come with an opportunity. Therefore, we have started gearing up for the next year."
He further said that if one misses a bus, it doesn’t change their destination. There is always another bus coming next to take them to their destination towards success.
He encouraged students to ask many questions as they want and whenever in-need they should ask for help, “Today, we have not called any principal or teacher so that you can speak to me as your elder brother. There has been a drastic change in our schools but if there is still something missing, then we need your help in fixing it. If a student isn’t able to succeed, then we want to understand what is still lacking in our system. We want every single child to achieve greater heights and it will be possible only when you will give us these inputs. We know you are disheartened but you can still help us,” the education minister said.
“There is no such thing as failure. This is not the end of life, nor is it the destination. "If you overcome your shortcomings, you may become a topper next year," he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the students of class 12th of the government schools of Delhi gave a historic result of 98 percent this year. Many students shared their interesting stories yesterday in a meeting with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Charu Yadav's story of Rohini was very inspiring. She left her studies in mid-way as she couldn’t succeed in class XI. But her teachers encouraged her and this year she became a topper in Humanities.
Sisodia suggested the students to make a list of people around them who are called "successful" in business, jobs etc. and have advised them to understand the kind of struggles such people had to go through in their lives. Shri Sisodia said that people who have achieved greater heights also have to go through the lowest phases in their lives. He told students to talk to him frankly like an elder brother.
Students expressed themselves openly during this interaction. Students mainly talked about their family reasons or lack of interest in the subjects they took. Few of them had financial issues and someone had a single parent. There was a student whose mother was ill during the examination, another one’s brother was going through the mental depression. Somebody got sick himself.
Thinking seriously on these topics, Sisodia said that family issues like having a single parent may hinder children's learning, we need to create a comprehensive support system for every child.
Many students shared their experiences. Another student said she wanted to take Humanities but she couldn’t take it due to parental pressure. This is the reason she underperformed.
Sisodia said that we will emphasize that after passing class 10th, parents should also be counseled along with children so that every child is enrolled in the subject of their interest. Parents should also understand it’s importance.
Atishi, former Advisor to the MLA and Education Minister, told students that it is wrong to say that a child has failed. Yes, it is necessary to get good grades, but no students can be fully assessed based on the result of a three-hour examination. Every child is unique. If anyone has failed, then we have failed ourselves, our school has failed, which could not help you reach your destination.
Highlights
One student said - My subject was Commerce. To this, Sisodia said – Commerce wasn’t your subject. Commerce is still your subject. Do not leave the field easily.
What is missing in our school? On this question of Mr. Sisodia, a student said - Sir, the school has given a lot of facilities. Nothing was lacking on your part, there was a problem in our household.