Patna: Covid turns students’ plans upside down

PATNA: The Covid-19 pandemic has not only robbed kids of offline studies and examinations, but also made their future uncertain.
Those on the threshold of entering college life are the worst hit. Some students are suffering from psychological distress and finding it difficult to concentrate on studies for competitive examinations.
Alina S Joe, a Class XII student of St Michael’s High School, was quite worried about her future.“Students having science background have alternative options like JEE and NEET, but the commerce students are left out. It feels like our future is decided by someone else. Class XII result is the only way to get admission in premium colleges of Delhi University. Now, we have to totally depend on entrance exams and we do not even know how the pattern will be,” the girl said.
She added, “The CBSE has not declared the marking scheme for Class XII yet. It is the worst year than even 2020 and it is not going to be any better as the experts are predicting third wave of Covid.”
Vishal Singh, a student of DAV Public School, said if he fails to clear the competitive exam, there will be limited options for him. “Even after admission, we will have to attend online classes because there is no certainty when the situation would improve,” he said, adding his parents are also worried about his future.
“I am unable to concentrate on my studies as lot of things are happening. Every time, we started preparing for the exams, the dates were extended. I am fatigued now. Being cooped up at home, I have become more stressed,” said Roshini Gupta, a student of Patna Central School.
Snehansu Kumar, a student of Loyola High School, said amid all the uncertainties, he was focusing on JEE. “My aim is to secure admission in a reputed engineering college. I am already preparing for the entrance examinations,” he said.
Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) students, whose Class XII results have already been announced, are also a worried lot.
Sugandha Kumari, the second-rank holder in BSEB Class XII, said she had planned to pursue higher education in Delhi or Jaipur. “However, it seems I have to take admission in a Bihar college now. The Covid pandemic has crushed all my plans. My parents are not willing to send me to any other state due to the pandemic,” she said.
Dr Binda Singh, a city-based psychologist, said kids are feeling insecure and have developed fear psychosis. “On an average, I attend to 6-7 such cases. Children are frustrated and uncertain about their future. I had recently attended a programme for students in which most children were distressed. They are also worried about the likely third wave of the pandemic,” she said.
Dr Santosh Kumar, a psychiatrist and deputy superintendent of NMCH-Patna, said kids should maintain their routine so that their biological clock is not disturbed. “They should spend some amount of time in regular exercises besides maintaining immunity level and indulging in productive things. Children should not cut off themselves from the family. Parents should avoid conflicts, spend time with children and keep them away from negativity,” he said.