Once again, the death of Sradha Satheesh, a student of Amal Jyothi Engineering College, Kanjirapally, by suicide has brought attention to the straightjacket disciplinary policies that many colleges in Kerala impose on their campuses.
In the name of maintaining decorum on campus, many colleges, professional and regular, continue to impose strict guidelines. However, most often, these colleges fail to realise that certain actions taken in the name of heightened discipline leave a lifelong mark on several students.
On Tuesday, Kerala's Higher Education Minister R Bindu criticised the colleges for the "imposition of strict rules on campuses". Many fail to understand that for years, students, in the name of discipline, have been facing moral policing and mental harassment in colleges.
Harassment inside & outside classrooms
A female student of Amal Jyothi College of Engineering, who did not want to be identified, said there are CCTV cameras in every nook and corner of the campus. "The college manager keeps an eye on students. He will call the parents of the girl the very next day if he sees a boy and a girl seated next to each other. There have been instances where a teacher or the dormitory warden has checked our messages on the phone," she claimed.
She has been protesting along with other students outside the campus, she said. "Once the protest ends, I don't know what actions the college authorities will take against us," she said.
"This is supposed to be our second home, where we mold our future. But we are being bullied, suspended, or having our marks reduced in internal exams. Even our parents are afraid to oppose the college because they can ruin our future," she said.
A male student, who also did not want to be named fearing persecution, pointed out that the college authorities and teachers never listen to students' pleas. "My roommates and I were expelled from the college hostel for complaining about the stale food being served in the hostel. We raised a common complaint after several students fell ill. They told our parents that we were drinking liquor inside the hostel and taking pictures of girls in the canteen. Fortunately, our parents did not believe them and asked us to shift to a rented house immediately, out of fear," he said.
Speaking about the general attitude towards students, he said teachers and management staff did not refrain from using foul language while scolding a student in front of a class. "Girls are never allowed to dress or tie their hair according to their preference. One time, a teacher, who was admonishing a girl student for the choice of her dress, said she was from the red street. In front of the whole class," he said.
Take a gentle approach
Dr Amrutha Rinu Abraham, an assistant professor of Sociology, at CMS College, Kottayam, emphasised the importance of being a good listener. "Mostly these kids don't give it a second thought while breaking a rule. Therefore, a teacher must comprehend why they did it and hear what they have to say. We must also analyse if the student is undergoing any kind of issue, be it related to his or her behaviour or family," she said.
Amrutha asserted that a teacher should not combine a student's academic performance with extracurricular activities or behavioural problems. "One must inform the parents if it is a serious matter or any incident that might cause harm to the student. We must accept that we are doing a sensitive job; as a result, occasionally scheduled orientation sessions led by mental health professionals can aid teachers in identifying students better, she noted.
Importance of mental health
According to Kochi-based clinical psychologist Dr Gayathri Menon, colleges should be cautious and patient before disciplining a student. "Social quotient and adult attachment styles may differ with each person. We must always remember that depression or anxiety are not triggered by an individual incident. Each child has a different background; some may have experienced a difficult upbringing dealing with problems like strict or divorced parents," she said.
Teachers must acknowledge their students' pleas and keep a check on their mental well-being as well. "Instead of reprimanding students or making them feel bad about themselves, faculty members should listen to them gently. If we set aside our "social norms" for a moment and act gently, such suicide or self-harm occurrences can be prevented, said Dr Gayathri. She also stressed how crucial it is for educational institutions to consult professionals when it comes to the well-being of their students.