Govt works to reduce academic pressure, students: Lokesh

Minister for IT and HRD Nara Lokesh said in the Assembly on Thursday that college students are mostly committing suicide due to ragging, academic pressure, and difficulties in fee payment. He noted that incidents of mental harassment are also emerging in school education, prompting the government to take preventive measure.

Responding to questions raised by YSRCP MLCs in the Legislative Council regarding student suicides, Lokesh expressed deep concern over the issue. He emphasized that various factors are driving students to take extreme steps, with ragging, academic stress, and financial constraints being the primary causes.

The government, he assured, is taking the matter seriously and implementing measures to address these concerns. Lokesh stated that special counseling programs are being introduced in schools to help students cope with stress and mental health challenges.

The government is also working to reduce academic pressure by bringing reforms in the Intermediate Board. He stressed that private school managements must take responsibility for preventing student suicides and creating an stress-free learning environment.

Highlighting the need to strengthen public education, Lokesh pointed out that 12 lakh students have already migrated from government schools to private institutions. He asserted that the government is committed to improving infrastructure and increasing teaching staff in government schools to restore confidence in the public education system.