Our education system resembles a video game.  

 

If you succeed, you go to the next level, but if you fail, you exit or repeat. There is a major difference, however, video games are entertaining, while the mere thought of our education system is stressful. Think about the future generation, should their worth really be defined by a grade?  

 

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, more than 20 % of teens, aged 13-18, have a mental health condition due to academic pressure. 90 % of the students believe that good grades are important whereas only 10 % care about learning. As well as that, 26 % of students consider seeking counseling, while only 10 % actually do so. 

 

The pressure of good grades and unhealthy competition plays a huge role in damaging a student's self-esteem and confidence. There is the same level of achievement for all students, hence, the students who require more attention from teachers, don’t usually receive it. In most cases, the teachers focus on students who are already striving and leave out the ones who require more attention.

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Due to a lack of awareness regarding the effect of academic pressure on mental health, we started a campaign called #HereForYou. We aim to introduce changes in the education system, such as a regular and mandatory class on self-awareness, allowing students to connect with themselves as well as ensuring the confidentiality of any issues shared, so that students feel comfortable with sharing information with the school psychologist.

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While developing this campaign, we interviewed multiple professionals and students on their opinion on how flawed education systems play a role in teenagers’ lives. This helped us understand the different perspectives each person has.  For example, a psychologist, Omar Touseef believes that “Any unfair system which doesn’t account for individual differences or individual talents will end up stressing and impacting them (students).”

 

A student in TNS has a similar opinion as he states that “Our education system in like a ‘one size fits all’ deal that can lead to some harmful effects on one’s mental health.”

 

TNS Beaconhouse's School counselor, Ms Huma Ali, gives her opinion on the topic, stating, “Those teaching criteria are ineffective in which students do not learn anything. When and if teachers revert to punitive strategies, students are degraded rather than being taught how to build up their self-esteem.” 

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The current education system only focuses on the grades we achieve in school. Students are now only focused on achieving a set target and not actually learning. This needs to change. If a teenager can navigate through this stressful time with a healthy sense of self, they can emerge as more integrated and self-assured young adults, ready for the challenges of the next step of their life.

 

Our damaged mental health stays with us for the rest of our life, not just in our school lives. Is a letter on the report card really worth destroying our mental health?

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