Wednesday, May 07, 2008
CHENNAI: No student of arts, science and engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu will 'fail' in an examination from the coming academic year 2008-09.

In a novel scheme, the Tamil Nadu government has decided to do away with recording 'F' (Fail) against any subject in mark statements.


Instead it will be replaced with the letters 'RA' (Reappearance) suggesting that the candidate will have to reappear for an examination in that particular paper. Higher education minister K Ponmudy informed the legislative assembly on Tuesday that the move was aimed at preventing examination-related suicides. "A recent study has revealed that 6000 students committed suicide annually in India of which 41% were related to fear of examinations and results," he said. When a case relating to the suicide of a student came up before Justice K N Basha of the Madras High Court last year, the judge directed the government to conduct psychological counselling for students. Accordingly, the government had constituted a committed headed by University of Madras former vice chancellor S P Thyagarajan, who recommended that the word 'Reappearance' must replace 'Fail' and counselling must be conducted for students. The government has accepted the same,” he said. The Psychological Counsellors Association has agreed to counsel students free of cost. Consequently, counselling will be held for college students at the beginning of an academic year and every three months thereafter.