‘Gadgets distract urban students more, affect PU pass percentage’

BENGALURU: Students from rural areas have proven their mettle once again, outshining their urban counterparts in II PU exams held last month. While rural students scored 62.88 pass percentage, in urban areas, it was 61.38 %.
According to experts, urban students face several distractions and comparatively, rural students are more focused. However, urban students are privileged with facilities like tuition, exposure to several opportunities, access to educational tools and internet.
Dinakar G, Kannada lecturer, Seshadripuram Composite College, said deferring studying and preparing at the eleventh hour is typical of urban students. “Addiction to mobile phones, video games and peer influence are reasons for lack of concentration. Most students study at the last moment for SSLC exam and score well. With the same over-confidence, they approach PU exams and this results in low pass percentage,” he said.
Dinesh M Kodavoor, principal, Karkala Jnanasudha PU College in Udupi, said it is the responsibility of teachers and parents to motivate and create interest among students. “Urban students have a lot of exposure, which in turn, leads to diversion from studies,” he said.
However, Bharati Babu Doreswamy, principal of Vidya Mandir College, Malleswaram, felt that students must not be blamed for the changes that have taken place in urban scenario. “Most urban students suffer from distraction, over-confidence and lack of time for self-study. Because of the time spent in colleges and coaching classes, they don’t get sufficient time for self-study. Self-study is the best method for effective learning,” she said.
She felt education is the only focus for rural students as they have to study well and earn for their living, whereas urban students have a calm mindset about this aspect as their parents work and there isn’t any necessity for them to think about earning early.
According to Shobha Krishnamurthy, mother of Vaishnavi K, who was the third topper scoring 594/600 in commerce steam, all that matters is hard work. “My daughter who studied in Bengaluru believed in self-study and she didn’t attend tuition. I don’t think her result would have been any different even if she had studied in a rural college. But it’s true that for many students in metros, distractions are more compared to that of their counterparts in villages,” she added.