Marks, myths and the mirage of success
By: Peer Mohammad Amir Qureshi
As the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) declared the Class 10 and 12 results, streets across the Valley echoed with celebration. The Class 10 pass percentage stood at 79.94%, with 1,16,453 students clearing the exams. Girls outshone boys with an impressive 81.24% pass rate compared to 78.74% for boys. Similarly, in Class 12, the pass percentage was 74.83%, with girls again leading at 77.72% against 71.95% for boys.
The mood was jubilant—sweets were distributed, almond sales surged, and confectionery shops remained abuzz with celebrating parents. And rightly so—students had worked hard, braved uncertainty, and crossed a crucial milestone.
But while it’s beautiful to make merry and embrace moments of triumph, it’s equally vital to pause and reflect. Do these marks truly define a child’s future? Is academic success always the prophecy of professional fulfilment?
When success isn’t enough
For every student who celebrates, there are others who didn’t make the cut—students now grappling with failure, anxiety, or a sense of worthlessness. But are they truly failures? Or simply unfinished stories awaiting their next chapter?
This year, one quiet success deserves attention: government schools outperformed many private institutions. This silent transformation—fuelled by dedicated teachers, focused enrolment drives, and renewed emphasis on infrastructure—signals a hopeful shift in public education. Perhaps, the balance is finally tilting in favor of accessible, quality schooling.
Degrees without direction
Yet, a troubling paradox persists. Despite increasing access to education—Google, YouTube, recorded classes, online coaching, even qualified family members—our young graduates face a bleak job market. Almost every home in J&K has at least one unemployed graduate or postgraduate. Not because they lack merit, but because there’s simply nothing for them to do.
Unemployment remains alarmingly high. When vacancies are advertised, recruitment processes often take years, adding to the frustration. What’s the point of accumulating degrees if they can’t be used to earn a living or support a family?
Reservation and Representation: A complex debate
One topic that evokes sharp emotions is the reservation system. While it’s historical purpose was to address deep-rooted inequality, its current application raises questions. There are cases where individuals from reserved categories—who already enjoy stable socio-economic backgrounds—receive disproportionate advantages, while equally or more deserving students from general categories are left behind.
This isn’t to dismiss the need for affirmative action, but to suggest that the system needs recalibration to ensure it truly serves the underprivileged, regardless of caste or background. A merit-driven, yet inclusive, framework must be our collective goal.
The price tag of success
Another harsh truth is the commodification of education. Private coaching centers—with their sky-high fees and competitive branding—have turned success into something that can be bought.
Students from wealthier families have access to premium resources: elite tuition, online platforms, and personalized mentoring. Those from less privileged backgrounds are left to navigate an uneven system, often without adequate support.
This growing divide undermines the very spirit of equal opportunity. Talent exists everywhere; access, unfortunately, does not.
The mental cost of an exam-obsessed culture
All this takes a severe toll on mental health. In our result-obsessed culture, failure is often equated with shame. The pressure to succeed—to earn top marks, gain admission, secure a job—is relentless. Tragically, we’ve grown accustomed to hearing about student suicides every time results are announced, whether by JKBOSE or national testing agencies.
This is not normal. It is a systemic failure. Until mental health is taken seriously in our academic institutions, the cycle of anxiety, depression, and despair will continue.
Conclusion: Beyond Celebrations
The JKBOSE results may mark a milestone, but they do not guarantee a future. Our education system, riddled with inequality and inefficiency, celebrates high scores while ignoring the everyday struggles of countless students. Degrees are handed out in the thousands, but opportunities remain scarce.
We must reimagine an education system that doesn’t just produce toppers, but fosters potential, creates jobs, values well-being, and restores hope. Success should not be a mirage visible only to a privileged few—it should be a horizon within reach of every student, regardless of background or bank balance.
Until then, the sweets and celebrations will remain fleeting. The real test begins now.
(The author is a columnist. He X’s @peermohdamir )
