Student's suicide leads to stir over pressure of studies

Kolkata: Students and guardians launched an agitation at a private convent school in Bowbazar area demanding removal of the principal for allegedly putting additional pressure on the students for studies.

A student of the school committed suicide at Central metro station on Friday. The victim in his suicide note has allegedly blamed the school for overburdening him with studies.

Tunier Banerjee, a class X student of the ICSE-affiliated private convent school jumped in front of a Dum Dum-bound train at Central metro station around 4.04 pm on Friday.

The teenager was rushed to a government hospital. He was admitted at a government hospital where he breathed his last.

According to sources, a mock test was scheduled to be held on November 15, 2019. However, the examination was preponed on October 21, 2019. The 15-year-old committed suicide apprehending that he would not perform well in the mock test.

"We are protesting for the removal of the school principal. We want the principal to resign," said Saibal Sen, a parent. Sen said that the study pressure on the children has been increasing and the school should keep eye on it. Apart from pressure in studies, students were allegedly facing problems to cope with several co-curricular activities in the school. The parents lifted their agitations after the school managing committee urged them give them to give 48-hours to look into the matter. The parents also went to Bowbazar Police Station and submitted a deputation.

Joyeeta Banerjee, the principal of the school, refused to comment on the issue.