Kashmir Scan 05 | Page 13

“ Usually they( girls) feel lower self esteem on such occasions while the boys tend to overlook( the results)," he says. " Also in our society the burden of keeping self esteem of the family is more on girls than the boys. Boys can do anything and get away. But that ' s not the case with girls "
more students attempted suicide in the valley after failing to have an impressive show in the exams. The ten- dency was more among the girl stu- dents than the boys. Recently, a girl student committed suicide in south Kashmir after she failed to qualify the class X exams. Before committing suicide the girl called her fatter saying that she had worked hard for the exams but doesn ' t know why she failed to qualify it.
Experts say that the exam re- lated stress, peer pressure and the family and societal expectations are driving the young students towards taking this extreme step.
" In our society, there is kind of a black and white thinking about suc-
cess and failure. We wrongfully
" Usually they( girls) feel lower self
think that those who pass in their ex-
esteem on such occasions while the
ams are good people and those who
boys tend to overlook( the results),"
fail are bad," says Dr Arshad
he says. " Also in our society the bur-
Hussain, a leading Psychiatrist of
den of keeping self esteem of the
valley who teaches at Government
family is more on girls than the boys.
Medical College in Srinagar. " This
Boys can do anything and get away.
idea of success and failure lowers
But that ' s not the case with girls ".
the self esteem of those students who
Dr Arshad says that the examifail
in the exams and they feel humil-
nation system in Jammu and Kash-
iated ".
mir is no measure of somebody ' s ca-
Dr Arshad says this think-
pabilities and the tendency of suiing
of the society is " awfully wrong "
cides or self harm after failures in the
given the examination system of the
examinations can be curbed only
state. " We have a particular kind of
after the society changes its thinking
educational system where all kids
and explores the strengths, interests
can ' t do well," he says. " Our exami-
and capabilities of the students. " Peonation
system gives advantage to a
ple can ' t be intelligent only in educa-
particular section of students who
tion.
Now we talk of multiple-
have a good rote memory with some
intelligence,” he says.
degree of educational IQ. It never
Dr Arshad quotes the example
measures your capabilities, innova-
of Indian cricket sensation Sachin
tion or sports capabilities ".
Tendulkar.“ He( Sachin Tendulkar)
The tendency of suicides –
failed in his class X exams but ev-
forced by the“ failures” in school or
erybody calls him a genius," he says.
college exams- in the valley is being
" Our elders see failure as the end of
witnessed more among the girls than
life and the children follow. We need
the boys. Dr Arshad reasons that it is
to change this attitude ".
because girls feel more humiliated.