Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi advised parents not to pressurize children over marks during his annual Discussion on Examination (Pariksha Pe Charcha) on Friday.
The discussion is a yearly interaction with students, parents and teachers ahead of class 10 and 12 tests, as well as several entrance exams.
“I urge parents not to pressurize their children. But at the same time, students should also not underestimate their capabilities,” said Modi during the sixth edition of the interaction which was held at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
“It is very natural for family members to have a lot of expectations and there is nothing wrong with that. But if the family members are having these expectations due to social status, it is a matter of concern,” Modi stated.
Time Management Matters
The prime minister also gave tips to the students on keeping a balance between hard and smart work.
“Some people hardly work smart and some people smartly work hard. We should learn the nuances of these aspects and should work accordingly to achieve the desired results,” he said.
Advising students not to suppress by pressure and stay focused, he said: “Like in cricket, a batter focuses on the ball thrown to him ignoring the shouts of fours and sixes from the crowd, students should also concentrate on their work.”
Creativity is No Tool for Cheating
Modi also spoke out against cheating in the exams. Urging students not to opt for shortcuts in life, he said: “Some students use their creativity for cheating in exams. If those students use their time and creativity in a good way, they will achieve success.”
Speaking about the importance of time management, the prime minister asked students to learn from their mothers, as he said that they rarely feel burdened by the immense work they do. “If you observe your mother, you will understand how to manage your time well,” he added.
Modi Reveals How He Deals With Criticism
During the interaction, Modi also replied to a student who asked the PM how he deals with opposition and media criticism.
“This is an out-of-syllabus question. In a democracy, criticism is like purification. For a prosperous democracy, criticism is vital,” he added.
More than 3.8 million students registered to participate in the sixth edition of the annual discussion, of which 1.6 million were from state boards.
Participantion in the event comes through selection via a competition, with the winners getting a chance to attend the event. Some of the winners even get a chance to directly interact with the prime minister.