The education system in India is very examination and result-oriented. Right from the examinations conducted by the school right up to the national-level entrance examinations such as JEE, NEET, CUET, etc., The students are kept busy with studies and examinations. While there are some people who consider competitiveness as a positive motivational factor for students, many experts are now worried about how competitive the Indian education system has become.
The rat race in Indian schools starts at an extremely tender age for students. In fact, students start preparing for the entrance examination even when they are in school. Institutions like Allen, PW (Physics Wallah), Aakash, FIITJEE, etc., have emerged as alternative methods of education in subjects such as physics, chemistry, and mathematics. Preparation for competitive examinations is done even in classes 8 and 9.
This early exposure to the pressures of life and competitive examinations has led to burnout and stress among students where they are unable to cope during examinations. It makes the students develop a natural hostility (or “dislike”) towards the subjects instead of a sense of curiosity and genuine interest in learning new concepts.
These top entrance exams, such as NEET and JEE, are conducted for a fair practice for admissions, but where only a small number of students get seats in top colleges. This creates a self doubt among themselves and the pressure to perform extremely well.
One of the biggest concerns due to the high competition is the impact on student’s mental health. Students experience mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, insomnia and lack of social interaction.
From a statistical point of view, the competition is at a very high level. Every year, over 10 lakh students appear for examinations like JEE Main but only a few qualify for advanced stages and a smaller percentage get seats in top IITs. Similarly, NEET gets more than 20 lakh applicants, but the seats available are limited. This imbalance places a burden on students.
In recent years the mental health of students in such settings has been increasingly under concern. Student suicides in Kota have brought the darker side of academic pressure to national attention. It just goes to show how much we need a better system and many students face anxiety, isolation and the fear of failure.
On the brighter side, competition does not always create a negative impact; in fact, it creates healthy competition where students are motivated to stay disciplined and focused. This brings a collective sense of nurturing their minds to realize the value of working towards their goals.
This only backfires when the students are judged solely based on their exam marks and their feelings and interests are ignored. These students are limited in their critical thinking, creativity, communication, and their overall social lifestyle is affected.
However, there have been initiatives in recent times that have attempted to minimize the burden of academic pressure. NEP 2020 tries to incorporate flexibility and skills-oriented education. Learning is to be done through concept application instead of memorizing things.
Another factor is the rise in various career options that have become favorable alternatives to traditional routes like entrance exams. Design, digital marketing, programming, business, and content creation have become valid career paths.
In conclusion, The Indian education system is very competitive in nature, and although competition is good, too much pressure could have a negative impact on a student’s psychological well-being. It is therefore imperative that there should be some degree of equilibrium between healthy competition and a nurturing environment.
Rather than judging success only by the performance in the examination hall, it is becoming increasingly necessary for each one to identify his or her personal strengths and future course of action.
