A student who was preparing for the national medical entrance exam National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) has died by suicide in Rajasthan’s Sikar, adding another unfortunate incident to the large number of suicide cases Rajasthan has been witnessing among students.
On 27 August, Rajasthan’s Kota witnessed yet another death by suicide on Sunday in a 16-year-old National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) aspirant.
Further on 28 August, two teenagers preparing for NEET exam died by suicide in Kota. The grim tally of students suicide in Kota reached 23 for the year.
Rajasthan’s mounting death toll among students seem to be the highest in eight years. This comes despite authorities taking measures like installing spring-loaded fans in rooms, “anti-suicide nets” in balconies.
Rajasthan government has also asked coaching centres to halt tests and exams.
A high-level committee on Monday conducted a marathon recommended coaching institutes to reduce study hours and create a friendly environment for students by adding fun activities to their routine, officials said.
Meanwhile, a state-level team is conducting health surveys at all coaching institutes across Kota, known as the ‘coaching class hub’ for NEET and IIT-JEE aspirants.
Around 80 per cent of students have filled up a health form provided by them, based on which students with doubtful tendencies are being identified and sent for counselling, with special focus is being laid on critical cases of doubtful symptoms or signs. Parents of such students are being asked to come to Kota to support their wards, he said.
In critical cases where students are found unfit in the second round of counselling, they will be sent home with their parents, he added.
On the ongoing suspension of regular tests at coaching institutes for two months, the collector said parents have recommended that tests are necessary for the evaluation of students and authorities are mulling on remolding the test system before resuming it.
An Act to regulate coaching institutes is also under consideration, authorities said, adding that there is no provision so far to impose a fine on or take action against a coaching institute.
Members of the committee refused to provide comments.
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