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WHEN A GRAVE ERROR BY EDUCATION BOARD COULD NOT DENT A TEENAGER'S RESOLVE

A TEENAGER'S RESOLVE AMIDST A GRAVE ERROR COMMITTED BY THE EDUCATION BOARD

Recently, Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education (TSBIE) has been in the news for wrong reasons- fiasco in declaring the results, where several students have been wrongly failed or marked absent. This had led to disappointment among students as well as their parents, in some cases, resulting into suicides of some failed students. https://www.news18.com/news/india/telangana-result-fiasco-parents-worried-as-21-students-commit-suicide-in-10-days-2120021.html

 This takes me three decades back to May 1989, when a similar error was committed by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). 
In the "Marks Statement" issued by the CBSE in May 1989, you can see the marks in Physics theory- 23/70 (which happens to be the bare minimum marks needed to pass). Compared to this, marks in Chemistry theory- 63/70 and biology theory- 62/70. The minimum overall (theory + practical) pass marks was 50. As Physics practicals marks were 30/30, happened to just pass overall (53/100). 

 This was shocking for the student, parents and teachers, alike, as nothing less than 90-95 marks were expected in Physics. Father was the most upset, and he even made rounds of the CBSE board office in New Delhi, however, he gave up after 3 days, as no "correction" of the "error" was expected and officials were not co-operative. 

 This did not deter the resolve of the student, though. He continued to study with passion, as acquiring knowledge was his main aim, and not mere obtaining marks. He did well in several competitive exams for MBBS entrance in 1989 and finally decided to join CMC Vellore, as that was the first choice for him and his parents. Today, 30 years later, he is completely satisfied with this life and profession, and admired & respected by his patients. 

 If the student had slipped into depression due to a fiasco by the Board in declaring erroneous results, the journey would not have been this great. One should not feel depressed due to a mistake made by someone else. That should only strengthen our resolve to do even better in future. 

 Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM
Neurologist, Hyderabad

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