Kerala Education Minister instructed every school in the state to cease the practice of entrance tests for1st grade admissions. Taking the mental health of the young aspirants into consideration, he emphasized on the necessity of a stress-free environment for raising and nurturing the next generation. He also criticized the profit-driven private educational institutions for their extravagant fee structure.
V. Sivankutty mentioned how some institutions in Kerala is operating with the aim of monetary benefits and how they charge large amount of money in the name of Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) fees. The education department intends to take stringent actions against those schools which violate government instructions.
Calling the practice of entrance exams as 'child cruelty', Sivankutty added how unacceptable it is to evaluate such young children on the basis of an exam. Furthermore, He criticized the interview system kept for assessing the education level of parents. Children should grow up in an environment which prioritizes moral values over academics.
"Let our children come to school happily. Let them explore nature and understand our constitution. Let them learn the values and responsibilities of being a citizen," the Education Minister added.
He also emphasized on the fact that denial of admission to any individual is a violation of their right as well as the constitution.
Many schools, both private and government have already begun admission procedure for the next academic year. Although there is a control in the amount of fees collected by government schools, there is no such control when it comes to private institutions. A hectic sum is collected from parents in the name of PTA funds and admission fees. This could even go up to lakhs in case of some self-financing schools.
Moreover, there is no need for formal studies from such a young age. The public need to realize how trivial the current education system is and should adapt to a system that focuses on modern knowledge rather than academics. Additionally, it is past time that institutions start taking mental health as an concerning issue and take necessary steps to tackle the problem. Around 10–20% of children and adolescents have a mental health problem of some type. Evidence-based preventive programs should be implemented in schools to improve the mental well-being of students. [1]
References
1. Schulte-Körne G. (2016). Mental Health Problems in a School Setting in Children and Adolescents. Deutsches Arzteblatt international, 113(11), 183–190. https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.2016.0183 (Accessed on February 04, 2025)
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Jithin Paul/MSM)