Physically present, mentally absent

Every year, the academic results of SEE/SLC, graduate and postgraduate studies bring a momentous problem for the state as a significant percentage of students fail the exams.

While around 50 percent of students fail SEE exams every year, university exams also do not yield satisfactory results, indicating that there are holes in our education system that need fixing.

Stakeholders are well aware of some of the reasons behind poor results at school and university levels—political interference, poor management, infrastructure, pedagogy, etc—and they can give hours-long lectures on these reasons.

Apart from visible issues, there are other issues also behind poor results. One of the most important factors behind a poor result at the individual level is the “lack of interest” on the part of the student in studies. 

On the contrary, if the student devotes time in studies, chances of him/her getting good results are quite high.

Our education system and society give high priority to education and for them, getting an academic degree is very important regardless of the individual’s interest (or lack thereof) in the endeavor. 

This mindset of the society and the state, which undermines the lack of individuals’ interest in studies, is mainly to blame for poor results year after year after year. 

This mindset ignores the fact that the individual interested in his/her chosen field, whether it’s education or some other sector, will surely put in extra efforts to get the best result. 

It’s a given that someone who wants to be an ace sportsperson will give it all to his/her chosen sport instead of burning the midnight oil for an academic degree. 

For example. football is life’s true calling for Ronaldo. Imagine what will happen if he is not allowed to play football. 

But this does not mean that getting an education is not important. Even those individuals who have no interest in studies would do well to get an education, a state-prescribed education at least, given the importance of education in this day and age. After completing basic education (my opinion is that it should be made mandatory), the individuals can follow their passion and make their dreams come true. 

The main premise of this writeup is based on my observation of students’ behavior in the Kathmandu Valley. Early in the morning, I see myriad students donning uniforms heading to their respective educational institutions. On the surface, it seems they all are marching with the same purpose but their body language reveals otherwise. 

It is not difficult to observe that each student has their own sets of dreams, desires and aspirations; even those with basic knowledge of psychology can read this much.

Some of these students look fresh and energetic, indicating that they want to study and do something significant in academia. 

Some others, through gestures and facial expressions, give the impression that they have no desire to study, that their hearts lie in other fields like music and sports.

They are physically present in the classroom, not mentally. They are taking classes because their parents want them to study at all costs, even at the expense of their chosen fields.

This is a sheer waste of time and resources, and this lack of interest in studies is one of the major reasons behind poor academic results.

As part of this study, I even asked some students “How do you feel while going to school?”

Their responses matched with my reading of their body language.

Parents, teachers and the government are focusing only on imparting education by taking it as the only means to get success in life, ignoring the dreams, aspirations and aptitude of the individuals concerned. On their part, these students are trying to make their parents happy by obeying them physically, though their hearts lie elsewhere.

Given this context, parents, teachers and state authorities should encourage students to pursue their dreams instead of forcing their will onto them. This way, our society will, in all likelihood, get Ronaldo, Mahabir Pun and many other wonders.