Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday spoke about the high number of student suicides that have presently taken the state by storm, during a short discussion in the Legislative Assembly on the issue.
Warning educational institutions against putting pressure on the students, and 'playing with their lives', Naidu said that students were “being turned into machines and robots”, PTI reported.
“There are various reasons that are driving students to suicide, the prime cause being mounting stress and pressure. Even parents are exerting pressure on kids for high score. Performance grading of students in colleges, health (problems), family problems, love failure and depression are some of the reasons. Some students are ending their lives (because they are) not willing to stay in hostels. Some are unable to cope with the high standards set by their institutes,” the Chief Minister was quoted as saying.
He also pointed out that they were just made to study all day, and forced to appear for tests on holidays, with no provisions for extra-curricular activity.
"It’s not right to turn students into machines and robots. We will severely punish such managements,” Naidu added.
Human Resources Development Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao who also spoke on the matter, said that they were monitoring complaints from students, and ensuring strict action against institutes that were violating norms.
In July this year, Andhra Pradesh's Board of Intermediate Education (BIE) issued guidelines to decrease stress on students in Junior Colleges, and prevent suicides across the state.
The guidelines were issued based on the findings of a two-member committee, consisting of Retired IAS officer D Chakrapani and Ratna Kumari, Former VC of Sri Padmavathi Mahila University.
Stating that the teacher-student ratio should be maintained, and should not exceed the norm prescribed by the Board, the committee said, "A councillor shall be appointed for each corporate college, and the same may be informed to the Board.
"There should be only one test every month in each subject, and parent interaction at the end of 6 months on progress of the students shall be made compulsory. Frequent shifts of students from one section to another based on performance shall be stopped. Display of marks on notice board should be avoided," it said.
"No instructions before 8am and after 6pm, and focus on personality development of the student should be given utmost importance in all the colleges," the committee added.