Alarmed over the recent reports of students of international schools and corporate colleges committing suicides, the State Government has decided to enforce corrective measures that will help in preventing such incidents.
To begin with, the Government has directed the managements of corporate educational institutions to hold meetings with the respective parents’ associations on Tuesday for evolving guidelines for preventing students from taking to extreme steps. The two sides should deliberate about the measures that could prevent “pressure” on students and this would be followed by setting up of counselling centres in these institutions.
Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Kadiam Srihari who conducted a review meeting with senior officials here on Monday termed as unfortunate the incidents of students taking to the extreme steps. He directed the officials concerned to inspect the educational institutions to check their functioning and wanted the managements of the international and corporate institutions to adhere to the guidelines issued by the Government.
These institutions should create congenial atmosphere for students pursuing their education. The attitude of the managements in not allowing students to visit their parents even on holidays and the pressure mounted on them for securing ranks should be stopped forthwith. “The managements should be told that they stand to lose their recognition in case of non-adherence to the Government’s guidelines,” he asserted. Parents on their part should assess the capabilities of their children before getting them admitted to the schools/colleges besides ensuring that they (students) were given freedom of selecting the course they intended to pursue. “Parents should not construe admission of their wards into corporate institutions as status symbol,” he said.
He said the Government would stand by students and students/parents should bring the problems if any they were facing because of the attitude of the managements to its notice so that remedial action could be initiated at the earliest.
