Girl slashes wrist for failing exams

A class 9 girl at a government school in south Delhi’s Ambedkar Nagar slashed her hand with a blade after she failed in her final exams.

She and her classmates have accused their teachers of deliberately failing most of them. The students and their parents have now sought the intervention of Education Minister Manish Sisodia.

On Wednesday, a group of students along with their parents had gathered outside Government Senior Secondary School Number 2 in Ambedkar Nagar. They alleged that many students were also failed last year in the class 9 examinations. Parents claimed that it was being done to ensure that only the best students represent the school in the class 10 board exams.

“We believe students are being deliberately failed as the school wants to keep a good record of class 10 results. This school has a history of large number of students failing in class 10,” said Komal, a parent.

During the protest, many students claimed they will commit suicide if the answersheets are not rechecked. Many of  requested for a retest.

Around 3.40 pm, a student named Jyoti took a blade and slashed her hand. “She sustained a minor injury which only required first-aid treatment,” said a police officer.

Jyoti later told media: “Our teachers have failed all of us this year. How is this possible that not even one of us is good in studies? Teachers are doing this on purpose as they want to reduce the number of children in the next class.”“If the school does not promote us to the next class, we will all commit suicide right in front of the school.”

On Tuesday, students of Salwan Girls Senior Secondary School in central Old Rajinder Nagar had also met Delhi government officials making similar allegations.Nearly, 120 class 9 students have failed there. The government blamed the issue on the no-detention policy, which does not allow schools to hold back students till class 8.

Camps are  being organised by the All India Parents Association (AIPA) to invite complaints from students and parents. According to AIPA, almost 90 per cent children in Delhi’s government schools have been held back in class 9 this year.