In West Jorhat Assam, near Bongalpukhuri Jayanar, one girl name Anaya Bordoloi (name changed) has committed suicide. She hanged herself with a drape used for salwar kurta. The cause of death was her High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) or class 10 Boards result. She had received 1st Division with letter marks in 1 subject.
As per local sources reveal to Inside Northeast, the reason behind this horrific incident might be pressure. The sources on anonymity allege that the mother of the deceased child was not satisfied with her result and even scolded her for her marks.
This incident has created an uproar in Jorhat and other parts of Assam, at a time when the schools were busy celebrating their 'glorious' results to showcase their achievements.
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This has brought to the forefront how kids who are yet to attend adulthood are coerced into the Assam HSLC exam ecosystem and are even rebuked if they fail to do well. Although, certain concerned citizens have condemned the act as a weak step, however in such statements one must not forget the mental health concerns of the vulnerable adolescents.
As per Mayo Clinic, teen depression is a serious mental health problem that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in activities. It affects how your teenager thinks, feels, and behaves, and it can cause emotional, functional and physical problems. Although depression can occur at any time in life, symptoms may be different between teens and adults.
One of the prime reasons for such depression is academic expectations. This obsessive need by certain parents to push their child into a set pattern of outcomes is thus a big contributor to such forms of mental instability.
The question is: Does the hysteria over Assam HSLC exams facilitate the problems further?
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