The Day Of Results

                      ENDEAVOURING TO CONQUER ANXIETIES

 

This was 12 May 2023, a usual day for all of us in school. An alumnus of our school came to meet all her teachers. After meeting the teachers, she came to me and we discussed about her progress and how the school helped her achieve what she could. She fondly talked about her participation in namely all the activities of the school (elated to mention that she was the head girl of the school). It gave me a lot of satisfaction when the importance of co-curricular activities was given due credit by her because, in the last few years, I have been made to feel that marks are the only criteria to measure an individual student’s intelligence and potential. But this was a short-lived joy because, in the middle of our interaction, we came to know that the result of class XII has been declared by the CBSE and after some time class X result was also declared (I do not know why CBSE keeps it a top secret and not let the stakeholders know the tentative dates). You must be wondering why did I say the joy was short-lived, the reason being my attention also was diverted to enquire about the result of our children. Though I was trying to make her feel that I was keen to know more about her growth nonetheless she could make it out that I was a bit distracted. She politely told me to excuse her so that I might know about the performance of our students. I asked her not to worry and we continued our discussion which shifted from her to the stress and the problems faced by the students due to examination and result pressure. She mentioned an incident which happened while she was travelling from her place of work to Jodhpur by train on 11 May 2023. She said that a mother and son were travelling in the same compartment in which she was and from the time they started their journey the mother kept on pestering the boy to check if CBSE has announced the result, this continued after every hour and she was a witness of this fret shown by this parent. At last, at around 4 am, she could not contain herself and told the mother to not worry so much, as it is the Board, is not going to announce the result at odd hours. Having said this, she deliberated about all those students and parents who would be sailing in the same boat as these two. Many questions haunted her, if this is the situation before the result is out, how would it be after the result? What is the mental state of a student? How do parents add to this uneasiness with their impatience? 

The above example is just one out of the many which we encounter. Needless to say, all results be it of a school exam or any other exam, leave students, teachers and parents in a state of fix. It is not the outcome of the result but the expectations that all of us develop with the passage of time. It is during this time that we come across a mixed kind of response from students and parents wherein some are extremely elated to score fairly well whereas others are disappointed with their scores. Although I keep motivating my teachers and students not to be anxious but rather face this phase with optimism and courage. However, being one of them, I too end up being edgy, knowing fully well that marks are just one facet to assess an individual student’s potential and capability. Sometimes, I keep wondering what exactly do we want the students to attain. Is it marks or learning? In our pursuit of scoring maximum marks, children have misinterpreted the whole concept of education. {Interestingly the NEP 2020 intends to put an end to scoring marks and is focussed on low stakes board exams, learning outcomes, competency focussed teaching, experiential learning, holistic progress card critical thinking and problem-solving skills of the students. One of the key goals of NEP is to promote research, innovation and a flexible multidisciplinary curriculum focusing on the overall development of the students}. It would be a game-changer if NEP 2020 is implemented and what is on the paper becomes a reality someday. At least then the students will be at peace and enjoy their success without facing any comparison from parents and relatives.  

 

We all eagerly await that phase and wish to see this transformation in the education arena. As teachers it becomes our moral obligation and duty, to find out where the students lack and conscientiously help them overcome it. It is not just about cramming a concept or text and appearing in the exam. There is a lot more than what meets the eye which we have to decode and find a solution. I found the answer to this in an article published in a local daily on 15 May 2023 that talked about a decline in reading habits among Indian students as a serious problem that is impairing their academic achievement, the author of this article says that this has been proved statistically in this year’s class X and XII CBSE board results. This year class X has seen a dip of 1.28% and class XII 5.38% respectively. These figures are both scary and alarming, needless to mention this batch who appeared in the board exams in 2023 is the one who did not appear in X board exams as we were in the face of a global pandemic hence these students were promoted to the next grade. We all need to agree on this that the two years of the pandemic have impacted the education sector negatively though we found alternatives in online classes, the fact of the matter is, nothing can ever replace classroom teaching-learning. A learning environment that a school offers along with participation in co-scholastics together ensures the holistic development of the learners. It is a hard fact to absorb but the two years have been daunting for the teaching fraternity and have taxed the students by limiting their opportunities to learn from their mentors. The result of this is evident in this year’s academic performance of our students. Undoubtedly, the CBSE quite effectively was able to conduct the exams but it could not help the students overcome the loss incurred during the pandemic. As Controller of Examination, CBSE, Dr Sanyam Bhardwaj puts it: ‘The results have not been ideal and encouraging.’ class X pass result has been 93.12% and XII 87.33% respectively. According to him none of the students have scored 100 percent marks ( students in classes X & XII scored full marks for last few years) and also this time the number of students scoring 95 % & above and 90% and more has been less as compared to previous years years. The number of students attaining compartment is considerably higher. It is worth appreciating, that CBSE has neither released any merit list nor categorised the result in ranks. This move has been initiated to save the students from unhealthy competition.  The critics see it as negative; they believe that this would kill the burning desire of those students who aspire to score high. Result analysis has proved that schools in Southern India have performed phenomenally well with Trivandrum hitting the chart with 99.91% followed by Bengaluru at 98.64% and Chennai at 97.4% respectively. The figures indicate that the schools in these states have overcome the onslaught of the pandemic and have recovered from its predicaments. Similarly, all schools across the country should follow their coping mechanism and work tirelessly to embrace them. For every child, each year of his academic growth counts and determines his future. And one year’s performance of a child should not impact his future. I was extremely moved by reading this article and chalked out a plan where my teaching staff is resolutely working to achieve the target, {No child should suffer learning deficit} they have set for themselves.

As teachers and parents, do we ever try to read a child’s psyche? What does he go through amidst all the pressure which is exerted on him?  The pressure to study hard, score well and then find a good college/university/ flourishing career path as well. We all know how stressful these three months are for a child of age 17-18. It is that time of the year when students’ anxiety level is at its peak with Board results declared followed by appearing/results in the JEE, NEET, CUET, CLAT and many more such entrance exams.

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Although, the students who wish to seek admission through these exams are already well-prepared and all set to fulfil their dream but still this too adds to the stress levels of the students from which there is no escape. At this stage, the teachers and parents can offer the scaffolding they look for and stand by them in their roughest times.

Since I mentioned the competitive exams, let me throw some light on the NEET exam conducted pan India and abroad recently. The next day's newspaper left me gloomy when I read that at a few centres, the candidates appearing in this exam had to go through a lot of humiliation as they were asked to change their outfits as per the NEET Guidelines. I strongly believe that this should not have happened since it is that time when students experience tremendous pressure to crack the exam for which they have been toiling for months/years. I would suggest the authorities be more empathetic towards the candidates and treat them with compassion. Similarly, I would also like to advise the candidates and their parents who appear in these competitive exams to read and adhere to the guidelines issued by the examination conducting bodies. We all need to understand that the NTA or any other agency, prepares for months to conduct these exams in a fair, transparent and smooth way for approximately 20 lakh students.

This example is just one out of the many cases reported. In every exam, most candidates reach on time and follow the norms as desired for fair examination. But there are few candidates who do not report to the centre on time and created a lot of fuss at the centre when they were denied entry. Parents of these candidates along with others showed concern that this behaviour of the exam authorities is detrimental to the students as that one moment decides the future. There would be candidates who would not carry proper identity proof etc. Amidst all this, what needs to be pondered is: Who all needs to be reproached for what has happened, the candidates or parents? I think instead of blaming anyone, the candidates and parents should share the blame for not giving due respect to the values of punctuality and abiding by rules. It is this negligence and apathy which lead to such situation. These values are instilled at school from a very young age and are at the core of the teaching-learning process, where the focus is not just helping students pass a grade but preparing citizens and future leaders of tomorrow.

 

Let’s agree to the fact that the student’s attitude today will decide their attitude tomorrow. Sadly, but true, students today are so much engrossed in reaching the targets set by them and their parents that cracking and qualifying the competitive exams is the only motive of their life. This tendency to be at the top of the chart in these competitive exams is being encashed by the coaching centres that have been mushrooming in every nook and corner of the country where students are brainwashed and misguided by luring them to unachievable targets for many and achievable for only a few. Perceiving how the students are being hoodwinked, we make it a regular feature to talk and interact with our students. In one such informal interaction with the students of class XII, students forthrightly confessed how their coaching mentors ill-advised them about Board exams and said that the NCERT syllabus can be completed in a few days but preparation for JEE and NEET requires rigorous practice. Also, they added that scores in Board exams will not affect their chances of qualifying for the competitive exams. The students honestly shared that they chose regular school over dummy school just because they wanted to overcome the burnout they faced in the coaching centres. They said that the interaction with their school teachers on a day-to-day basis has offered a lot of clarity and now they understand that all competitive exams consider NCERT books as the base for them and without understanding the concept it is impossible to crack these exams. They agreed that there is no alternative to school education and were glad that despite the different patterns of the two exams they are happy coming to school and this positive approach has led to their consistently outstanding performance at both places. The interaction with students of class XII and with a pass-out student whom I mentioned at the beginning of the article helped me connect the dots that everything boils down to how we perceive things. The children and parents must understand that without hard work nothing can be achieved. This you may do yourself or be completely dependent on somebody else. Not qualifying for an entrance examination does not mean one is not competent because in our county the entrance exams are not for selection but rejection. This may seem to be a strong statement but my concern is - in which IIT, Medical college or Law college any weightage is given to the achievements in co-curricular or extracurricular? But the fact is that participation in such activities definitely makes a person happily successful in life (example of an old student shared at the beginning of the article).

 

In the end, I would like to congratulate all the students who appeared in these exams, out of which many have performed exceedingly well and others could not perform to their expectations; my words of advice to the ones who got compartment and did not qualify would be –Only one exam cannot decide what your future is going to be like. There are numerous examples when the people had failed or did not get the required percentage of marks, or could not qualify but have done so well in their life. I am not saying that the ones who do very well academically do not succeed but my tagline would always remain whether they are happily successful. You all possess a unique set of strengths and passions that extend far beyond the confines of one exam. You all will one day achieve great heights in life and then nobody will ask you what were your marks back in class X or XII. Each one of you is far more than what you achieve in your academics. Some of you might excel in sports, others in arts, music and community service (values of unwavering kindness, compassion and extending a helping hand to those in need). Some may possess remarkable emotional intelligence, empathy and leadership skills. Pay heed to these invaluable qualities, for they shape you into the individual you wish to become.

 Let us agree to understand that the need of the hour is to appreciate well-rounded individuals who are not defined solely by their academic accolades but by inventiveness, entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and diverse talents. As parents and teachers let us all come together in this endeavour and shift our focus from a narrow view of success to a broader celebration of the incredible potential within each and every child. Together we can create a society that cherishes and nurtures the holistic development of our children, ensuring a brighter and more fulfilling future for all.

 

Dear children: "Don't limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve.” KEEP LEARNING! KEEP GROWING!