Wednesday 24 / April / 2024
Muscat: Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir stood shrouded in a veil of grief on Sunday, with empty classrooms and deserted playgrounds devoid of the usual chatter of students, as the school mourned the loss of one of their own.
Also read: Avoid putting too much pressure on children, parents advised
On Saturday, February 8, the Class X student reportedly committed suicide on Saturday at her home, while her parents were out. The student apparently waited for her parents to leave home and jumped off the roof of her two-storey building in Wadi Kabir.
The incident has left parents, teachers and students across Indian Schools in Oman shocked beyond belief.
All examinations, classes and practical sessions at ISWK were cancelled as the school remained closed on Sunday to observe a one-day mourning period in her memory.
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PM Jabir, the Indian Social Club’s Community Welfare Secretary, said he was among the first to arrive at the scene, owing to him living near the site of the incident. “This is a very sad situation that has occurred, and it is a terrible thing for the parents to face. It is unfortunate that there is so much pressure on students to perform well these days.
“Just a few days ago, I came across a circular that had beexxxxxn sent by the principal of an Indian school in Saudi Arabia,” he added. “In that circular, he reminded his students that the exams they were going to be writing soon were only exams. To do badly in these exams were not the end of the world. There should not be so much pressure on students to perform well.
“For a school principal to say such strong words shows you how seriously this must be taken,” added Jabir.
“Cases that deal with student concerns must be handled by experienced and trained counsellors. I myself have had children who went to the same school many years ago, and we made it a point to not pressurise our children to perform. Today, they are very well settled and have established themselves in their careers. Students must be treated as human beings and exams must not be used to drain their self-confidence.”
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A school teacher in Oman, who did not want to be named, added, “What has happened here is very sad indeed. As a teacher myself, I see that many children, despite having pressure, do perform well in their exams. We do discuss any concerns that students might have, ahead of their examination, and are always there to help. We go so far as to share our phone numbers with students who want to speak with us.”
In a show of solidarity, Mukund Manohar, Indian School Muscat Alumni (ISMA) President, expressed his sympathies over what had happened, saying: “Words seem inadequate to express the sadness the alumni community feels over the passing of this student. Our thoughts and prayers go to her family to give them strength during this difficult time.
“Being former students of the Indian schooling system in Oman, we understand the stress a student goes through during the exam season,” he added. “We encourage all students to have open dialogues with their parents and teachers. The teachers and school community are always there to help the students with any difficulties they have and are always willing to lend a helping hand.”
