Competition takes a toll on youth and children’s health

Is excessive burden of books and competition ruining youngsters’ lives? Read more about this menace of the current times...

Last Updated on November 3, 2022 by Neelam Singh

There was a time when children used to read books keeping it close to their heart but today, the same has turned into a bunch of load that hangs on their tender shoulders. Earlier, kids went to ‘pathshalas’ to learn new things in playful manner. Today, that soft mode of learning has become a thing of past as children are pushed into mechanical learning and are in an addictive race for making successful careers.

In India, January 12 is celebrated every year as the ‘National Youth Day’ to commemorate the birthday of Swami Vivekananda. The youth icon had once said about academic learning, “We need an education system that builds characters, boosts mental strength, develops intelligence and helps man to stand on his feet. The education which helps us build our lives, become true human beings, construct characters and acquire sound judgement is called true education.”

In today’s context, Vivekananda’s words seem to be of little significance since the education system we see today has a completely different meaning. Children today are busy imbibing bookish knowledge and running in a blind race where nobody is sure about the goal. While one can understand that this change has come at a time when the population has grown in leaps and bounds but at the same time, it has also adversely affected kids’ physical and mental health.

The factory that makes children’s future

Web series such as Kota Factory, Laakhon Mein Ek and more recently Crash Course reflect the reality of today’s learning and the adverse impact it leaves on students. The mushrooming coaching institutes want to keep their shops running since education is a big money-minting business. When results of various competitive examinations come out, their booming ‘success’ makes it to the front page of newspapers and hoardings. They advertise more about several forms of learning formats, ranging from class-room course, tablet course, distance course, crash course, etc. that take a toll on the children by putting more stress on them.

In crash courses, the students are made to complete two years’ study in short period. They are also pushed into cut-throat competition to finish in the top 10. In 2019, coaching institutes in Kota, Rajasthan, made a profit of Rs 3,000 crore. These figures give enough idea about the enormity of the businesses that sell dreams in Kota, the educational capital of India.

The business of education is not confined to places such as Kota but is seen in every nook and corner of the country. Coaching centres providing tuition have sprung up to train students for big competitive examinations such as IIT-JEE and NEET and they charge lakhs for such courses.

Akanksha, who studied at a coaching centre in Kota in 2019, shared, “I had enrolled myself for a crash course for preparation of IIT. There, classes happened from 10 am to 8 pm from Monday to Saturday and the hectic schedule saw a number of students, including me, getting exhausted by the middle of the day since the brain could no longer take the burden. Our thinking stopped and we only listened to the notes and wrote them down. We used to become so tired that even after returning to our rooms, we could not concentrate on studying but had to complete a load of home tasks.

“Tests were taken every Sunday and we used to be shuffled for getting good ranks. If the rank was good, then we got into a good batch. But if the ranking was not good, the students were demoted. Many of my friends left the courses mid way. I also wanted to go home but it was difficult after spending lakhs. Sitting for long hours in the classes also caused physical problems such as abdomen and heap pain. Many students even took the drastic step of suicide and we were afraid to hear their stories. Eventually, I could not make it to the IIT and my father got me admitted to a private college.”

Sitting for long hours can affect health

According to a research published in Better Health Channel, if you are sitting in the same position for a long time, you can be at risk of several ailments – such as increase in weight, pain in heap and feet, heart diseases, diabetes, nervous disorders, discomfort in neck and eyes, etc.   

Psychologist

According to Psychiatrist Dr Binda Singh, “Children should not be put under pressure over education. While they need to be multi-talented to thrive in a competitive set-up, the mental pressure created on them could push them towards depression.

We often see parents comparing their children with other children but this can lead to unhealthy consequences since this can make them suffer from an inferiority complex and prone to revenge. These tendencies need to be checked before they become worse. Each kid is special in his/her way and we must ensure that individual talents are encouraged. Children feel responsible about themselves at a certain age hence, it is always better to have friendly relations with them instead of putting pressure.”

The burden of expectations

It is not only the coaching institutes and their demanding teaching style that affects children psychologically. Even their parents are responsible for their plight as they expect their children to fulfil their own dreams. This expectation kills the talent of these kids. They are forced to follow the burden of their guardians’ dreams.

The children today find them in middle of a merciless and blind race, thanks to the exploding population and the cut-throat competition and scarcity of resources that come with it. It is natural to see changes and growth in ambition with changing times but unfortunately, the children have to pay for these changes with their health, and sometimes even life. In April 2022, four instances of student suicides were reported from Kota.

Self-assessment is the key

Children face immense pressure when they prepare for competitive examinations such as IIT-JEE or NEET or even an ordinary one and it could lead to serious consequences. The Indian society still admires those who do government jobs and this triggers an intense race to do well in competitive examinations to become a govt employee. It is not wise to expect the same results from every child. Parents should train their kids as per their capacity and guide them to achieve true success as a good human being.

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