The woman congratulated her son’s achievement even though ‘it is not a 90 per cent’

A Facebook post by a mother in India went viral after she congratulated her son for his performance in the grade 10 board exams.

Even though her son was not one of the toppers, Vandana Sufia Katoch congraulted her son Aamer for the results. In the post, which was shared thousands of times on Facebook, she wrote: “Super proud of my boy who scored a 60 per cent in Class 10 board exams. Yes it is not a 90, but that doesn’t change how I feel. Simply because I have seen him struggle with certain subjects almost to the point of giving up, and then deciding to give his all in the last month-and-a-half to finally make it through! Here’s to you, Aamer. And others like you - fishes asked to climb trees. Chart your own course in the big, wide ocean, my love. And keep your innate goodness, curiosity and wisdom alive. And of course, your wicked sense of humour!”

The touching message from a mother resonated with many social media users, who spoke out against an obsession with the final marks on a paper instead of overall growth of students.

Facebook user Sanghamitra Das wrote: “Education is beyond books. One exam does not determine the real potential of a child. Congratulations and wishing the best for your sons!”

Another comment by Facebook user Chetan Shetty read: “… we need examples like you to show those who value the grades more than the actual learning and development of our kids…”

Many other users who had also received similar marks in the grade 10 board exams pitched in to support the mother’s message. Facebook user Gaurav Narang wrote: “Was a 60% in my school and here I am better than all the ones who scored 90s.”

Pressure

Students in India undergo extreme stress during the exam season, with the country infamous for suicides after results are released. As results were announced for Grade 12 last month, 20 students committed suicide in the state of Telangana alone after they failed. 

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