Prime Minister Modi today addressed around 2,000 students and teachers from India and abroad, at the ‘Pariksha pe Charcha‘ event, weeks before the board examinations. He was answering varied question regarding stress, time-management and the anxiety of parents during the exam time.
PM Modi started the address with condolences to Socialist Leader George Fernandes who passed away recently, due to prolonged illness. He said Fernandes was a dynamic leader, who fought vehemently against the Emergency period during the Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s era.
PM Narendra Modi during Pariksha Pe Charcha 2.0 in Delhi: George Fernandes passed away today. He was a dynamic leader. He fought the Emergency tooth and nail. I pay tribute to him. pic.twitter.com/BlRWBFl0Zw
— ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2019
PM Modi said that the event has not been organized with the intent to give lessons or sermons to students. He said that he is there, just to become like his viewers and live like them.
Expectations of Parents about their children
The first set of question came to PM Modi about the stress of students and parents during exam time. A teacher from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kolkata asked about what to tell parents who treat exam as the foundation of a life of their children. A UPSC Civil Service exam aspirant from Kerala asked how to deal with the pressure of expectations and also asked PM Modi that how does he deal with the expectations of our nation.
PM Modi said that students should ask themselves whether the exams are for class 10 or 12 only, or are exams for your life. He asked parents not to impose their unfulfilled dreams upon their children. He said the expectations adds more burden to already burdened children. He said, instead parents should encourage their children to face failures like a mother teaches her toddler to stand up once he falls while walking.
I would request parents- do not expect your children to fulfil your unfulfilled dreams.
Every child has his or her own potential and strengths…it is important to understand these positives of every child: PM @narendramodi #ParikshaPeCharcha2
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
On the other hand, he also said that expectations steer students from disparity and unhappiness. He also appealed students to be attentive to their guardian’s views, and also apply that to their everyday life.
A parent asks PM Modi about the menace of technology
A parent from New Delhi asked PM Modi about the ill-usage of technology, and about its negative impact on his son’s studies. She said that her son, used to be good at studies, but now stays distracted due to games. PM Modi jokingly asked whether her son was addicted to PUBG (A popular multiplayer online game).
PM Modi explained about both the facets of technology. He said that technology is both a problem and a solution. He said that nowadays every child has a mobile phone, so it becomes important to take care of how it is used.
The PlayStation is good but never forget the playing field: PM @narendramodi #ParikshaPeCharcha2
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
PM Modi said that Playstations(popular gaming console) are good, but students should not give up on playgrounds.
“What makes you so energetic,” Student asks PM Modi
A student from Tamil Nadu asked PM Modi that how does he manage to work for 17 hours and what is key to his energy.
PM Modi, answering to question, said that he thinks that 125 crore people of the country are his family members and tiredness is not an option when serving them. He labelled time-management as one of the most important aspects of exam preparations.
He asked students to analyze how they spent their whole week on what tasks. This way, PM Modi said, that students will be able to ascertain that what percentage of time they utilised and what time they wasted.
A student asks, how to make studies more fun?
A student from Pathankot and a student from Kathmandu asked PM Modi that how exam help in personality development and how to make it more fun.
कसौटी बुरी नहीं होती, हम उसके साथ किस प्रकार के साथ deal करते है उसपर depend करता है। मेरा तो सिद्धांत है कि कसौटी कसती है, कसौटी कोसने के लिए नहीं होती है: PM @narendramodi #ParikshaPeCharcha2
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
PM Modi said that students should take as an opportunity and not as a mere exam. He said that students should look for knowledge and marks will eventually follow the aspirant. He asked everyone to enjoy exams like a festival, this way it will lessen their stress and help perform better.
“It is common thinking that Science and math are more important than other studies. How to change that?” Student asks PM Modi
A student from Aligarh Muslim University and a student from Benaras Hindu University asked PM Modi about the subject choices, and how students are forced to go for science and math than arts and commerce.
PM Modi said Math and Science are subjects of paramount importance but parents should also view that in what stream his child is interested. He said that studies should only be driven by passion.
Clarity of thought and conviction are essential.
Yes, science and maths are essential but there are other subjects too worth exploring. There are opportunities in so many areas now: PM @narendramodi #ParikshaPeCharcha2
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
He said that choosing of the stream should be based on conviction rather than on pressure. He urged students to take the cue from teachers and parents regarding their career.
आप अपनी तुलना अपने पुराने रिकॉर्ड से कीजिए, आप competition अपने रिकॉर्ड से कीजिए, आप अपने रिकॉर्ड ब्रेक कीजिए, आप अगर खुद के रिकॉर्ड ब्रेक करेंगे तो आपको कभी भी निराशा के गर्त में डूबने का मौका नहीं आयेगा: PM @narendramodi #ParikshaPeCharcha2
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
He said that teachers and students should never compare one student with another. He also appealed to students to compete within themselves rather than with others.
PM Modi talks about depression, encouragement for exam and others
A student from Moscow appreciated PM Modi for his efforts undertaken for the students since his last Townhall on exams. A student from Kuwait gave inputs to improve the education system of the country.
PM Modi said that learning should not be reduced to exams only. He said that our education system needs to include the challenges faced by us as well. Depression, according to PM Modi, is a big issue and needs to be dealt with talking about it and realizing its impact.
A person does not always get depressed all of a sudden. There are signs that show a person is heading into depression.
Ignoring these signs is not a good idea. On the contrary, we must talk about this: PM @narendramodi #ParikshaPeCharcha2
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 29, 2019
He also emphasised on the importance of counselling in one’s life.
PM Modi’s interaction with students on tackling exam related stress is hailed as a one of its kind initiatives. The PM had also launched a book last year titled ‘Exam Warriors’ that discussed study related stress and encouraged students to ignore stress while striving for excellence.
