School students stretched for marks

Updated on: Tuesday, November 29, 2011

N. Sanjay, a class X student, attends coaching classes between 7 am and 9 am and from 6 pm to 9.30 pm. In between, he goes to school.

Sanjay has no choice. His father wants him to take the extra load, so that he scores enough marks to enter a reputed college.

With the rat race for college seats intensifying, parents and schools feel compelled to stretch, sometimes even to the point of collapse.

Sanjay said, “My parents want me to score more marks. But I hate tuition as I think my schoolteacher is better.”

R. Manoj Kumar, a class XII student, says he scores good marks, but his teachers still ask him to come to school early for additional coaching. “They [teachers] say they do not want to take a chance as I may not study at home,” he said.

Ms R. Janaki, a private schoolteacher, however, insisted coaching classes conducted by the school were not stressful and blamed private tuitions for any problems students may be facing.

“Even educated parents fail to understand the adverse impact they [extra coaching and private tuitions] have on students. It has become a mania. Students take tuitions early in the morning and late nights, so that school classes are not affected. This takes a toll,” she said.

Ms Shanthi, another teacher, said: “Only students with low marks are asked to stay back and given extra attention, while those with good marks are free after school hours. Students and parents must understand that what we are doing is for their own good.”

School students stretched for marks

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