Premium Educational Institutions of India or Auschwitz ?
Alleviating Academic Pressure and Promoting Mental Health in Premier Educational Institutions
Introduction:
Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)/IIMs/AIIMS/other institutes of national importance are esteemed for their academic rigor and competitive environment. However, the intense pursuit of excellence often leads to excessive stress and mental health challenges among students. (ref.)
Navigating the pressures at IITs is undoubtedly tough - societal expectations, outdated curricula, and dwindling placements contribute to a challenging environment but we are losing some of the brightnest people who can contribute much not only for our nation but for the world & this can be avoided.
Six students, three each from IITs and the National Institute of Technology, died by suicide in 2023. Eight IIT students died by suicide in 2022, four in 2021, and three in 2020. Why has this been happening? "One of the main reasons students take this extreme decision is academic pressure. (The Indian Express:20 Mar 2023). 76% of first-year students at IIT-Bombay claim 'academic stress (Ref)
This article explores the underlying factors contributing to academic pressure and its adverse effects on student well-being.
Causes of Academic Pressure:
Source: Times of India
1. Pressurized Academic Environment: Testimonials especially from students reveal instances of verbal abuse, shaming for their failure or low CGPA, unfair grading practices, and a lack of support from faculty members and/ or in some cases seniors too. The emphasis on superficial aspects such as grammar & formatting exacerbates stress and detracts from the substance of students' work. Many professors want a research result in order to publish paper. If you don't meet this expectation, you'll be tagged as failure. However, they fail to understand that every student is unique & has different abilities & interests. You can't judge a fish by it's ability to fly in the air. Someone who has come so far, can be guided to new heights with empathy & understanding. Just think why is it failure to be unable to score a 9.5/10 in exams ? Why an unfruitful lab test result is your fault? Why you , an engineering guy mocked if you score low in financial management?
The guides put unrealistic burden on the students so that they can get a research paper out of the students' work. Unfortunately, squeezing in years worth of work (which is needed to get to the point of research paper in an international journal) in a mere few weeks/months puts inordinate amount of pressure on the students. On top of that, the guides use their power to "stop degree" as a leverage over the students. The agony that the poor young boy goes through is excruciating. If the guides' words are taken at face value, the student sees his/her entire life going for a toss as what would he/she do without a degree? This is just one of the many instances of pressure and the chances of the student giving up on any one of those is quite high. About time that those in power sit up & take note and instead of milking this breed, it will be a better way forward if they decide to nurture them.
2. Cultural Dynamics and Institutional Shortcomings: Reactive responses/retaliation, superiority complexes from professors /senior, and a lack of mental health support services within the institutional framework further compound students' struggles. The normalization of stress and the acceptance of suicidal ideation perpetuate a toxic academic culture.
3. Apathetic & Ignorant system: an anonymous IIT alumnus, recalls an incident where a professor verbally & terribly berated a PhD student during an online seminar while his computer mike was left unmuted. Another student recounts instances of unfair grading and denied chances to discuss/be heard by the professor, due to absence in classes because of illness, shedding light on institutional shortcomings. Interestingly there are no well-known & effective ways to get these problems resolved immediately, highlighting the hostile academic environment.
4. Disrespect & discouragement towards innovation: Many students show reluctance to pursue further studies in India due to perceived disrespect and pressure, emphasizing the need for cultural change. When a student comes up with a work that's not satisfactory, instead of showing the right way, he or she is often humiliated & shamed. Many students have the frustration of facing academic hurdles, including biased grading and discouragement from pursuing innovative ideas, highlighting the detrimental impact on mental well-being.
5. Other factors: While major factors remain the academic stress, rigorous curriculum & grading. Other factors are the inability to change branches, different social backgrounds, choices & orientations, inability to cope with tough schedules & personal reasons. Which can be detected by a suitable mechanism & addressed as early as possible to avoid any unfortunate incident.
Own observations:
I remember one of my professors reducing my score just because of (as per him) "trying to show off good English" ( I don't know if I'm that good).
Another one giving an "E" grade just because I was absent for a month due to critical dengue in the IIT hospital itself. Many students leave their degrees due to unnecessary pressure. They (the frustrated faculty) check the grammar & commas, color selection, etc when you make a small report about your last experiment & the whole conversation goes to the cryptography rather than the outcomes.
Color selection, using bolds & italics, etc. are highly counted & appreciated. You're supposed to be a robot. Missing units or some little human error is highlighted so massively that the whole presentation/report turns into a discussion about your abilities & totally deviates from the outcomes & results of the study.
Giving low scores in many cases is treated as a sign of the scholastic abilities & quality of a professor & they like being famous as strict or cunning while giving marks. Of course, not all of them are like this. There are a good number of exceptions as well who will forgive if there is a calculation mistake while you have taken the right steps to solve a problem. But those who are more strict & senselessly arrogant lead to high stress on students.
Also, in many instances, new experimentation / trying new ideas is prohibited. If you do so you're more criminal than anyone as it'll be two projects under one topic & they do not like it.
If you speak up / ask/question you'll be ignored, asked tougher questions, humiliated, given low scores, and your genuine work would be framed as being copied, etc. I don't know what can be done. But sure, something is needed.
Humiliation, verbal attacks, shaming, pointing you out, making you feel as if you're not good enough & not fit for the institute, underrating your capabilities, threats on academic scores, etc. are very common.
Consequences:
The consequences of academic pressure and mental health challenges are grave, as evidenced by the alarming level of academic stress in IITs (Ref.). It also leads to low-quality research, brain drain & much more. Statistical data reveals a concerning trend, with a significant number of student deaths occurring in recent years.(Ref.) These tragedies underscore the urgent need for intervention and support mechanisms to prevent further loss of life.
Possible Solutions:
IIT /AIIMS/other institutes of national importance attract hardworking as well as highly ambitious people. Who have big goals & enthusiasm & need someone who can guide & divert the energy in the right direction as per our capabilities so that they can thrive better. For that, there needs to be a kind, empathetic & capable eye with good experience & a noble mindset.
Unfortunately, colleges don't take mental health tests & EQ analysis of those who are in high positions thinking as the students (who are not less than pure gold & can build transformative technologies) to be a lab workforce. It appears as if there is some unhealthy sense of superiority many faculty get in suppressing & humiliating the students. If not all then at least many of the professors are the same.
Some of the possible ways to tackle the crisis can be as follows (please suggest more in comments):
1. Easy Flexibility in Branch Change: Implement policies allowing students to change branches easily, accommodating their interests and capabilities.
2. Elimination of Weekend Teaching Hours: Ensure that teaching hours do not extend into weekends, providing students with essential time for rest and relaxation.
3. Arrangement of Re-exams: Offer re-examination opportunities for students instead of assigning failing grades, providing them with a chance to improve.
4. Accessible Grievance Helpline: Establish a safe and accessible grievance helpline for students to report issues and seek support.
5. Compulsory Counseling and Mental Assessment Sessions: Introduce mandatory counseling and mental health assessment sessions to address students' psychological well-being.
6. Dedicated Senior Student Mentor: Assign dedicated senior student mentors to guide and support younger students through academic and personal challenges.
7. Frequent Mental Well-being Surveys: Conduct regular surveys among students to assess their mental well-being, and academic pressure, and gather suggestions for improvement.
8. Independent Body for Student Complaints: Establish an independent body to address student complaints promptly, ensuring confidentiality and taking swift action.
9. Faculty Training on Mental Health Awareness: Organize seminars and training sessions for faculty members to raise awareness about mental health issues and improve student care.
10. Promotion of Extracurricular Activities: Encourage student participation in extracurricular activities such as sports, cultural events, and recreational trips to foster holistic development and stress relief.
11. Special Attention for Vulnerable Students: Identify and support vulnerable students, including those with language barriers, different ethnic or sexual orientations, or low participation, through surveys and counseling inputs.
12. Installation of Alternative Alert Systems: Remove fans and implement alternative alert systems to detect and respond to any unfortunate incidents promptly.
13. Ensure a student friendly environment with student as the top priority & any harassment complaint to be acted within 24 hours as seriously as a ragging & no. of complaints/negative faculty or senior feedback be counted. With a safe call helpline when in need to be able to complain anonymously & immediately with repeated assurance that no identity will be revealed.
Conclusion:
The prevalence of academic pressure and its detrimental effects on student mental health in IITs are pressing issues that demand immediate attention. By addressing the root causes of stress and implementing comprehensive support mechanisms, educational institutions can foster a nurturing and inclusive learning environment. Stakeholders must prioritize student well-being and work collaboratively towards creating a culture of empathy, support, and academic excellence.
References:
5. LinkedIn
6. The Hindu
Student mental wellbeing Survey
Please fill it out fully. You can choose to respond anonymously. (Linked here)
If you need help, here are some important links, immediately take action without hesitation. Remember, You are important not just for yourself but your mom, family, friends, institution, and society & they are waiting Just to see you smiling. Nothing more. Remember whatever is going on, is temporary, if you move on bravely, you will feel proud tomorrow on yourself. Warriors don't Worry!
Immediate free Helplines:
i-Call : 9152987821
Tele MANAS by GOvt. of India for students: 1800-891-4416
Toll-Free Helpline KIRAN (1800-599-0019) by DEPwD, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Whatsapp: https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=919999666555
Websites where you can consult/speak up:
https://www.mind.org.uk/need-urgent-help/
https://yourdost.com/suicide-prevwention
https://1life.org.in/
https://findahelpline.com/fr-FR/countries/in
What to do when feeling helpless:
https://www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/about-mental-illness/learn-more-about-symptoms/suicidal-thoughts-how-to-cope/
Speak Up: Register your grievance/complaint without disclosure concerns:
UGC - https://samadhaan.ugc.ac.in/Home , toll free No. 1800-111-656
Public Grievances portal - https://pgportal.gov.in/Signin
Providing education is a service as defined under the Consumer Protection Act and complaints about educational institutions can be filed before the Consumer Commissions. (Complaint here.)
Useful Social Media links: Premium Self-Help Content.
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