Failed SSLC students find a friend in ZP CEO

SSLC students who failed in the exam in Dakshina Kannada have found support and encouragement from an unlikely source.

Dr K N Vijayprakash, the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer, who served as a teacher before donning the role of a bureaucrat, has taken time off to write to all the 4,651 students who could not pass the SSLC examinations and to the headmasters of 448 schools to motivate and encourage students to take up supplementary examinations scheduled for June 18. Vijayprakash’s letter to students says: “You are a sculptor of your upliftment and your academic career does not end here.”

Vijayprakash says the shock of having failed in an exam is compounded by the humiliation the student faces from peers and parents.

While a few take extreme steps, many take years to overcome the humiliation.

The letter goes on to express his regret about the SSLC results not being in favour of the student.

But he is hopeful that the student will make up his/her mind and seek teachers’ help to clear the pending subject/s.

In separate letters to the headteachers, Vijayprakash has congratulated them on their efforts in obtaining good results this year (85.24 per cent) and for raising the district’s position to seventh from  21st last year. He has also appealed to the heads of institutions to take special classes for failed students and prepare them for supplementary examinations.

Apart from this, he has convened a meeting of all block education officers (BEOs), DDPIs and other officials concerned, including the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan officials, to extend maximum help to students.

Vijayprakash, in a circular dated December 12, 2011, had appealed to headmasters to take special care of students weak in studies.

“As many as 27,116 students have been identified as weak in studies,  steps should be taken to conduct special classes, special camps, change their seating arrangements (make them sit in the front rows)  and provide value-based education,” it said. 

A report on their progress should be sent to Block Resource Centres.

To a query on the possible outcome of his letter, Vijayprakash said the move may not have a great impact, but is a small step towards boosting the morale of the students.