Female matric student ‘dies by suicide’ in Odisha after being charged with malpractice

A disturbing incident has emerged from Berhampur City of Ganjam district, where a female matriculation examinee allegedly died by suicide on February 21 (Saturday) after returning home from her English examination, sources said on Monday.

Also Read: Class 10 girl student found dead under suspicious circumstances in Rourkela

According to the girl’s family sources, the student took an extreme step and ended her life after coming back from the test. They claimed she was deeply distressed after a chit was allegedly found in her possession near the examination centre main gate. Thereafter, she was charged by the school authorities for committing malpractice in the exam.

The family alleged that some teachers had scolded and warned her after the incident, which had affected her mental state. However, authorities of the VV Giri Government Girls' High School in Berhampur, where she had appeared for the examination, denied the allegations of threats.

“My niece, a Class 10 student, had her English exam on Saturday. She went to school for the exam and returned home afterwards. At around 6.00 PM that evening, she committed suicide. When we spoke with her classmates to understand what might have happened, a girl mentioned that my niece had perhaps taken a cheat sheet to school. Upon seeing the teachers at the school gate, she threw it away,” the girl’s maternal uncle, Balaram Sahu, said while speaking to mediapersons.

“However, a teacher saw her and accused her of bringing the copy. Even though she denied it, the teacher threatened her in front of everyone, saying she would be marked for malpractice and wouldn't be able to take exams for the next three to four years,” Balaram Sahu expressed.

The school’s headmistress has stated that if required, CCTV footage from the examination centre will be reviewed. She also assured that appropriate action would be taken against any staff member if found responsible for the student’s death by suicide.

“A total of 378 students are appearing for the exam here. They are from the Government Girls' High School and Saraswati Sishu Vidya Mandir, Gosaninuagaon. No one was caught for malpractice. We have not received any such complaints yet. Furthermore, our teachers have not done anything of that sort. The students came comfortably and left after their exam was over. It was conducted smoothly,” headmistress Chandini Panda stated.

“Surely, we will investigate. There is no problem; the entire area is under CCTV coverage, so there would not be an issue. Action will be taken against whoever is at fault. I am confident that nothing like this happened, and the exam was conducted smoothly,” Chandini Panda added.

The incident has sparked concern over student stress during board examinations.