Educational institutions in India are now becoming mere degree factories, where both the possibilities and sensibilities of children are dying. Cities like Kota, Hyderabad, and Delhi are shaken by the suicide statistics. This crisis is not only of examinations, but of our thinking and system, which places rank above life. There is no place for dialogue, mental counseling, and humanity in education. Till the time we do not connect education to life, this system will continue to prove disastrous and not successful.
The schools and colleges that were once called temples of knowledge are today slowly becoming synonymous with that pain, where instead of children’s laughter, tension-filled silence resonates. There was a time when education aimed to make life beautiful; today, education has become a burden on life. We have reached a time where students are not afraid of education, but of the structure of education. Kota, Hyderabad, Delhi, Chennai, Pune – hundreds of students commit suicide every year in so many cities. These are not just incidents; they are a declaration of the defeat of our system.
Kota city of Rajasthan, which is considered the centre for preparation of competitive exams, is also becoming the biggest centre of mental stress in the country. Every year, lakhs of students come here with dreams of becoming doctors, engineers, administrative officers or scientists. But the price of these dreams is so heavy that hundreds of children are unable to bear the burden and end their lives.
Studying in coaching institutes has now become a mental test. Classes from 6 am to 10 pm, homework, exams, then results – there is no way out of this cycle. Students have no time for sports, literature, music or conversation. There is no time for friends or to talk to oneself. And in such an environment, when a child fails, he considers himself unfit for life. This mentality is so deep that he cannot even think that life is not decided by just one exam.
A student’s suicide is not just the end of a life; it is a harsh comment on the education system that weighs students on the scales of numbers and ranks. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, more than 13,000 students committed suicide in 2021. This number reflects the magnitude of the tragedy happening in the name of education in India. Have we ever tried to think why these children are committing suicide? Can mere failure in an exam force someone to give up life?
Actually, the problem is not the exam; the problem is the mindset in which failure is considered a stigma. Parents, society, teachers, coaching institutes – all nurture this mindset that the child who did not succeed in the competition is worthless. As a result, the child starts blaming himself and slowly goes into depression. He does not even have the courage to tell his story to anyone.
For years, India’s education system has been lacking in the fact that mental health has never been given priority. Schools and colleges neither have permanent mental counselors nor open communication with students. Parents also often do not understand what their child is feeling. Instead of asking children ‘how are you’, they are asked ‘how much have you studied’.
This inhumanity of the education system has been further intensified by the commercialization of education. Today, education has become an industry, not a service. Coaching institutes do business worth crores. Their aim is only to make children successful in exams, not to make them capable in life. They make children memorize answers; they do not teach them the habit of asking questions. They create machines of success, not humans.
It is not just about coaching. There have been reports of suicides from the country’s prestigious colleges and universities as well. Rohith Vemula, a research scholar whose suicide shook the entire nation, was also a victim of institutional discrimination and insensitivity. Even today, many forms of caste, social, linguistic and regional discrimination exist in our educational institutions. Students do not get mental security, emotional support, and when all avenues are closed, they decide to end their lives.
The problem is very deep and it will not be solved by merely “mourning” or “making regulations”. We have to redefine the definition of education. Education cannot be just a medium of degrees, marks, or jobs. The aim of education should be to understand life, develop self-confidence, and maintain balance in every situation.
We have to ensure that every educational institution has a permanent mental counsellor. There should be an open platform for children where they can express their thoughts, feelings, and problems without fear. The examination system should be such that it not only tests rote learning but also gives importance to creativity, reasoning and empathy.
At the same time, there is a need for strict control over coaching institutes. Their fees, timetable, examination pattern — everything should be regulated by the government. They should not be seen only from a business perspective, but they have to be brought under social responsibility. The government should also make a concrete policy on this subject instead of just making statements that can prevent incidents of suicide.
Parents also need to understand their role. They need to communicate with their children and assure them that their failure is not a crime. We need to understand that every child is unique, and everyone’s definition of success cannot be the same.
It is also necessary that a culture of accepting failure easily be developed in society. We have to teach that failing in an exam does not mean failing in life. If a child is not able to succeed in an exam, there are other ways for him. This life is not just a list of ranks; it is a journey of emotions, feelings, and possibilities.
Our country will be considered educated only when its educational institutions teach children the art of living and not just the curriculum. When students emerge with a purpose and not just degrees. When education connects children to their identity and not numbers.
What is needed today is not to “make children memorize books”, but to give them confidence and self-esteem. They must be convinced that they are enough just the way they are. Their potential is bigger than mark sheets, and their lives are more valuable than exam results.
If we cannot do this, thousands of lights will be extinguished every year, and we will only be left regretting lighting candles. Education has to be made value-based again – where students get purpose, not just a degree; identity, not just a job; and confidence to live, not just studies.
