Pariksha Pe Charcha: Exams are not everything, says Modi

NEW DELHI: Students must not think examination is life – that has been a key message of “Pariksha Pe Charcha 2020”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction with students to beat exam stress. He had said this year’s interaction will be like 'hashtag' trending on social media – #NoFilter. Modi said that let this discussion also be “free, light-hearted and interesting”.

Addressing a gathering of over 2,000 students in Delhi he said that life is not just about scoring marks in exams and that an exam is just an “important step”. Modi said: “I would also urge parents not to tell to children that examination is everything.” Addressing parents he said that there are many avenues these days and to think if a child has not done well in one examination is the end of the road, is not correct.

Yashashri, a student from Rajasthan asked what she should do because board exams put her off. Modi, citing the example of 2001 India-Australia test match and recent Chandrayaan launch that failed, said that it is important to fight till last moment to succeed. He said: “A temporary setback doesn’t mean success is not waiting. In fact, a setback may mean the best is yet to come.”

However, this was not entirely a spontaneous question-and-answer session. At least some students had prepared their questions in advance and the Ministry of Human Resource Development, which organised the event, had been posting some of them on social media over the weekend.

"Do our marks decide our future?"
- asks Nilza Angmo, class XII student from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Leh.

Nilza will be attending #ParikshaPeCharcha2020 tomorrow where the Prime Minister, Shri @narendramodi will be interacting with students from all across the country. @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/clMtI7s7Qp

— Ministry of HRD (@HRDMinistry) January 19, 2020

Modi added that this decade is important and whatever the children of Classes 10 and 12 will do in this decade will not only be important for the future of India but for the whole world.

In another question-answer tinged with a political message, Modi responded to a question from Arunachal Pradesh saying that the students he is interacting with will play a key role in India’s development in 2047 when we mark a hundred years of Independence. “I hope this generation takes it upon themselves to act on some of the Fundamental Duties enshrined in our Constitution. When rights and duties are spoken together, only then everything gets messed up. Whereas our duty only includes the rights of all. When I do my duty as a teacher, it protects the students' rights,” he said.

Talking about handling examination stress, when some students asked why they blank out when they see the paper for the first time, PM said: “I would urge students to be confident about their own preparation. Do not enter the exam hall with any sort of pressure. Do not worry about what the others are doing. Have faith in yourself and focus on what you’ve prepared.”

Extracurricular activities

When a student from Jabalpur asked about the importance of extra-curricular activities along with studies, Modi took a dig at parents and said that what is not good is when the passion of children becomes fashion statements for parents. He said that extra-curricular activities need not be glamour-driven and it is important to let each child pursue what he or she likes.

Technology in education

Students from Andaman and Nicobar and Sikkim asked PM about the importance of technology in education. The prime minister said that technological trends are changing quickly and it is essential to stay on top of them. “Fear of technology is not good,” he said. “Technology is a friend. Merely knowledge of technology isn’t enough. Its application is as important.”

In this year’s edition, over 2000 students participated in the Charcha, out of which 1,050 students have been selected through essay competition. In this third edition, 50 disabled students also participated. The conversation was also moderated by students for the first time.

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