Students’ Suicide in Telangana: A Grim Picture of Academic System
Image Courtesy: Mandsaur Sandesh
New Delhi: As many as 18 students across Telangana have committed suicide in past seven days, over their poor performance in the Intermediate results.
On April 18, the Telangana Board of Intermediate Education (ISBTE) released results for Class 10th and 12th in which over three lakh students were declared "failed" out a total of 9.74 lakh students who had appeared for the examination, according to a report in Indian Express.
After the results were declared, a series of suicides cases were reported, bringing to fore a grim picture of the academic system in Telangana. The state government is facing heavy backlash as parents and students’ groups have come out on the streets in protest.
The protest intensified after the re-evaluation score of one student was revised from zero to 99. As per the Indian Express, G Navya, who got zero in Telugu in Class 12th, applied for re-evaluation and the score was revised to 99. Meanwhile, the state government has ordered re-evaluation of the answer sheets and the result.
In a revelation, it was found that the state government had entrusted a private firm, Globarena Technologies, with the contract of exam enrolment and processing of results despite the firm's poor record of handling such projects.
As per the Indian Express, "JNTU, Kakinada, filed a police complaint against the firm last December for not delivering content as per the agreement. JNTU had paid Rs 20 crore to the firm for the job."
The President of Telangana Parents' Association N Narayana was quoted by report as saying, "Technical glitches in the evaluation system led to brilliant students getting 5 or 10 marks in some subjects and hundreds were marked absent despite appearing for the exams. There were technical glitches in the software deployed by the Globarena Technologies. When the results were declared, the company admitted that there were glitches but said that they had been rectified. Now it appears the whole process was full of mistakes. Unfortunately, due to these mistakes, students who failed are taking their lives." However, the agitated parents are turning no stone unturned to get justice.
In a PIL by the Telangana Parents Association, the High Court has ordered TSIBE to "re-evaluate the answer-sheets of the failed students." Taking note, the Telangana Education Board stated that the "process would take at least two months and added that it would submit a reply after discussions."
One of the suicides includes the nephew of Rajya Sabha Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP C M Ramesh.
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