The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): In a heart-wrenching turn of events, two students from Odisha’s Ganjam and Bhadrak districts took their own lives, reportedly due to the overwhelming pressure of their examinations. These distressing incidents surfaced while the students were in the midst of crucial academic assessments.
In Ganjam district, a young man in his second year of Plus II science was discovered deceased in his home at Suryanagar, Baidyanathpur. This occurred on a Friday morning, coinciding with the ongoing Plus-II examinations. The student, enrolled at Nilakantheswar Sishu Mandir in Berhampur, faced a troubling incident just the day before. He was allegedly caught engaging in unfair practices during a physics exam at Khallikote College.
Simultaneously, another tragic incident unfolded in Bhadrak district. A Class 10 student, staying at his maternal aunt’s residence in Jahangir Sasan village, was found in a similar state, mere hours before his scheduled English examination. This student hailed from Mayurbhanj district and was preparing for the ongoing matriculation exams.
While the community and authorities suspect that the unbearable stress of examinations played a significant role in these tragedies, there are nuances to consider. In the case of the Class 10 student, his uncle, Madhabananda Mishra, expressed doubts about the assumed motive. He revealed a perplexing detail: the boy had received a distressing message from a girl, suggesting her own intentions to end her life. Upon inquiry by his aunt, the boy evasively deleted the message, leaving unanswered questions behind.
These incidents have cast a somber shadow over the educational environment in Odisha, raising critical concerns about the mental health pressures faced by students during examination periods. The community and educational authorities are now grappling with the need to address and mitigate the intense stress that can accompany academic pursuits.