Raising the issue in the House, Congress MP Sandeep Dixit said children, failing to combat the stress especially while facing exams, were driven to suicide. They were also taking to drugs and smoking and in some cases, children were found eating lizards or having Iodex and toothpaste as anti-depressant.

He and his party colleague, Priya Dutt, made a plea to undertake drastic changes to reduce exam stress among students. Quoting reports from institutions like Nimhans, Dikshit said the overwhelming stress among students, especially those appearing for Class 10 and 12 board exams, were forcing them to take to drugs or commit suicide.

Measures taken
Responding to the discussion, Minister of State for HRD M A A Fatmi said though several steps to ease pressure and stress on the students were being taken under the National Curriculum Framework (NCF), the government would consider the members’ concern.

Samajwadi Party leader Mohan Singh, who was in the Chair, suggested that the government convene an all-party meeting on this issue.

Fatmi said in his reply that societal, parental and peer pressure were also responsible for students’ stress.
“There is need for psychological counselling of students who are under extreme stress.  At the same time teachers in schools are also being trained under the adolescence education programme to act as part time counsellors”.

The ministry, he said, had issued an advisory to all state governments to ban corporal punishment in schools.  Also, physical education, sports and yoga are compulsory in all CBSE affiliated schools and in many state schools from class I to class X.

No homework
The minister said the NCF, prescribed no home work for children of classes one to four, additional 15 minutes time in class X and XII examinations to enable students to read question papers thoroughly, frame question to help them answer before the time limit, shifting from content-based testing to problem-solving and competency-based testing, and higher weightage to practicals, among other things.