Archive · 13 Nov 2025
IIT Kharagpur Urges Parents to Focus on Well-being Over CGPA
Imagine your school is telling parents, 'When you talk to your kids at college, don't just ask them about their grades or if they found a summer job.'
They want parents to ask more about how their kids are doing, if they're happy, and what they do each day.
This is because sometimes asking too much about grades can make students feel super stressed.
IIT Kharagpur noticed that many students feel a lot of pressure, and sadly, some students have even died.
So, they started this program for parents to help them connect better with their kids in a way that supports their happiness and not just their schoolwork.
They want parents to be like friendly coaches, not like strict bosses about grades.
They are also getting more helpers, like counselors, and even an app to make student life better.
IIT Kharagpur is advising parents to avoid asking first-year students about their CGPA or internship plans during phone calls.
The institute suggests parents focus conversations on students' general well-being and daily campus life.
This initiative follows a series of student deaths on campus and aims to alleviate academic pressure.
An external expert committee identified parental pressure as a significant stressor for students.
The parents' induction program also highlighted measures like appointing more counselors and launching a student well-being app called SETU.
- Who
- IIT Kharagpur administration and parents of first-year BTech students
- What
- An online induction program advising parents to focus on their children's well-being rather than academic performance metrics like CGPA.
- When
- November 11-13
- Where
- IIT Kharagpur (online program for parents)
- Why
- To reduce student stress and mental health pressure, particularly in response to recent student deaths and identified parental pressure as a contributing factor.
IIT Administration's Guidance
Parental Intentions
Communication Focus
IIT Administration's Guidance
Parents should inquire about their children's general well-being, daily lives, and campus experience, fostering a friendly interaction.
Parental Intentions
Parents often intend to guide their children by asking about CGPA and internship plans, which can be a way of showing care.
Impact of Queries
IIT Administration's Guidance
Queries about CGPA and internships can exacerbate parental pressure and trigger mental health issues, being counterproductive.
Parental Intentions
While seemingly guiding, parental queries about academic performance can sometimes be perceived as supportive intent rather than pressure.
- Institution
- IIT Kharagpur
- Event
- Online Parents' Induction Programme
- Dates
- November 11-13
- Target Audience
- Parents of first-year BTech students
- Key Advice to Parents
- Focus on student well-being, not just CGPA or internships.
- Context
- Response to student deaths and understanding of student pressure.
- Student Deaths on Campus (Since January)
- Five