india

Updated: May 16, 2019 20:01 IST

Not performing up to their expectations in Assam’s high school leaving certificate (HSLC) exam, results for which were announced on Wednesday, reportedly led five students to commit suicide on Wednesday. All five took their lives by hanging.

The announcement of the Class 10 results of the exam conducted by Assam’s Board of Secondary Education (SEBA) is a much anticipated annual affair.

Experts say pressure from parents and peers to perform well leads students to take such extreme measures.

The reports of the students taking their lives came in from Assam’s Sarbhog, Baksa, Jorhat, Lanka and Bongaigaon.

Four girl students committed suicide for failing the exams while a boy in Bongaigaon killed himself after failing to secure first division (60% marks).

“A girl student from Baksa district committed suicide yesterday. Preliminary investigation suggests the cause was due to failure in HSLC exam. The victim was brought to a hospital in Barpeta Road where she was declared brought dead on arrival,” said Debadanda Das, in-charge of Barpeta Road police station.

Terming it an alarming public health issue, counselor Gariasi Dutta said that competition and the marking system could also have contributed to such incidents. “Without taking into account the individual potential and capacity of the student, undue pressure is put on them. It is very important to develop life skills of students along with academic development,” said Dutta.

A total of 60.23% of the 3.36 lakh students who appeared for the exam cleared the hurdle on Wednesday. The pass percentage increased by over 4% from last year, when 56.04% managed to pass.

Thirty-nine students managed to secure the top 10 positions with Meghashree Borah of Sankardev Shishu Bidya Niketa, Narayanpur bagging the first position by securing 594 of 600 marks—the highest ever tally in the state’s HSLC exam.

Chinmoy Hazarika of Don Bosco High School, Baghchung and Pratyasha Medhi of St. Mary’s High School, Guwahati came second with 593 marks.

Afreen Ahmed of Christjyoti School, Nagaon and Anushree Bhuyan of St Mary’s High School, Guwahati, came third with 591 marks each.