In response to the recent rise in cases of student suicides at IITs which has sparked a debate
about whether the curriculum and the rigorous study schedule are affecting the mental
health of the students, the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi has decided to reconstruct
its evaluation system and drop a set of mid-semester exams.
This step has been taken as an effort to reduce stress and improve the mental health of the
students. The new evaluation system will focus more on continuous assessments and
projects, rather than a heavy emphasis on exams. This is expected to give the students more
flexibility and reduce pressure they feel while attempting well for a single exam, PTI said.
̎In an interview with Director Rangan Banerjee, he said, ̎Earlier we used to have two sets of
exams during a semester, final exams at the end of each semester and several continuous
evaluation mechanisms. We conducted an internal survey and based on feedback from all
the students and faculty, we have decided to drop one set of exams. So, now there will be
two sets of exams besides routine evaluations.̎
We felt that the exam calendar was too packed and hence decided to reduce student
burden and stress. The decision has also been approved by the Senate and will be
implemented from the ongoing semester. A maximum cap of 80 per cent weightage has
been kept for the two examinations, he added.
Earlier in April the IIT Council had emphasised on the need for a robust grievance redressal
system and agreed on increasing psychological counselling services. During a meeting it also
called for a reduction in pressure, fear of failure and rejection among students. The issue of
student suicide, alleged discrimination, and ensuring the mental well-being of students was
discussed at length during the meeting.
Few days backs, a 21-year-old post-graduate student at the Indian Institute of Technology,
Hyderabad committed suicide in her hostel room. The student was a resident of Odisha and
had joined the institute in the month of July. She was staying in a single seater room in the
college hostel. The other students found her hanging from a ceiling fan.
Last month, a 20-year-old B. Tech final year student at IIT Delhi also died by suicide in the
college campus. These incidents have raised concerns regarding the mental pressure and
study pressure these students have to face while studying in the campus.
In view of the suicide cases and the pressure faced by the students, Banerjee commented
that, ̎Any suicide is tragic and its heartbreaking for everyone. We have to make the
university a more supportive environment for learning and create an enabling ecosystem so
that whenever any student is having difficulty emotionally or mentally, he or she should feel
free to approach someone and get the right counselling and guidance at that stage ̎.
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