Education System and Mental Pressure: Suicide?
Education System and Mental Pressure: Suicide?
Recently, a JEE Main 2025 aspirant, Aditi Mishra, ended her life after struggling with the extreme competition and pressure of the system. This was not just a personal failure but a reflection of an insensitive and inhumane education system that places an unbearable burden on students. Every year, thousands of students succumb to this pressure and take their own lives, highlighting a deep-rooted crisis in our education model.
But is this what education was meant to be? India, once known as the Vishwaguru (world’s teacher), has reduced learning to marks, exams, and cutoffs. The ancient Indian education system focused on holistic development, self-realization, and knowledge, not just clearing an entrance exam. If we look at India’s past, education was never limited to grades or jobs. The great institutions of Takshashila, Nalanda, and Vikramshila focused on diverse fields like arts, astronomy, medicine, philosophy, and spiritual growth. The Gurukul system emphasized both intellectual and moral development, preparing students for life, not just for exams.
A well-known Sanskrit phrase says: "Sa Vidya Ya Vimuktaye"—True education is that which liberates. But today’s system is mentally enslaving students, making them feel like failures for not achieving high ranks.
Today’s education system has turned students into machines, pushing them into coaching centers, endless exams, and unrealistic expectations. Despite their hard work, success is never guaranteed. Flawed policies like extremely high cutoffs, lack of opportunities, and an unfair competition model are breaking students mentally.
Aditi Mishra’s tragic end is not just a loss for her family, but a shame for society as a whole. If a young student feels so hopeless that life seems meaningless, it is not her failure—it is the failure of the entire system.
According to NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau), 35 students commit suicide every day in India. This alarming statistic calls for urgent reforms in the education system.
Revamp the Education System – Shift from a marks-based to a skill-based education model,Focus on Mental Health ,Make counseling and emotional support mandatory in schools and colleges. Change Competitive Exam Structures – A student’s entire future should not depend on just one exam; multiple career pathways should be created.Parental Awareness – Parents should support their child’s talents and interests rather than pressuring them for high scores. Integrate Indian Knowledge Traditions – Education should not be limited to textbooks but should include yoga, meditation, Vedic wisdom, ethics, and life skills.
Aditi Mishra’s suicide forces us to ask: Are we truly educating our children, or are we just pushing them into a life of fear and failure? If we do not change our system now, countless more innocent lives will be lost to this cruel setup.
It’s time to revive our ancient values and create an education system that not only makes students capable but also teaches them how to live a fulfilling life.
©®Payal laxmi soni
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