Hyderabad: A family in Karnataka organized a meat-cutting campaign to encourage and express support for their son, who failed all six subjects in the board exam.
The red threat said that the parents did not pull up their son who had obtained the mark in the mid-70s against the “Sharmaji Ka Beta” obtained in the 95s.
With the results of several recently announced school board exams, many parents choose to respond with emotional support and encouragement, regardless of the trademark they obtained. The students said this positive reinforcement made them feel more confident and anxious, not just their scores.
“We are beginning to see a healthy shift in parenting, and academic outcomes are no longer the only lens to measure the value of a child,” said psychologist Ravali Lagini. “When parents choose to be around their children, regardless of the mark, they reinforce the idea that the value of a child is not closely related to grades.”
Several students shared their personal experiences about how parents support them when they do their board exam results. A CBSE Level 10 student who scored 84% and asked to be anonymous said, “My mother had a slightly higher expectation but was still very happy. My father told me that real-life markings didn’t matter and that even people with lower scores could live a good life. In my grades, they ordered cakes and pizza to congratulate me. I’m glad they accepted my joy.”
Narra Surya Vara Prasad, who received a 64% stake in the 10th grade, said: “My parents gave me an iPhone 16e after my grades motivated me. I was so happy. They made me feel like I could do better and gave me another chance to prove myself. They asked me to focus on intermediate learning and I would do my best.”
Another student, S. thanishka, recalled how her parents comforted her after a difficult exam experience. “I told my parents about the tough paper. From that moment on, they supported me until the results were announced. I cleared the exam with 62% of the time, despite my fear of failing. They were surprised with the dog, which I wanted for a long time.”
Aratrika Sanyal, a math failure, said her father took her to supper the day she announced the results. “I was frustrated and expected to scold. But he took me out and explained the importance of failure and why I shouldn’t be bothered.”
This parental attitude is popular with educators and mental health experts. “Children are encouraged to do their best in themselves regardless of the trademark,” said Dr. B. Ebnezar, vice-chairman of Sahodaya School Complex in Hyderabad. “Exams are part of life, not part of life itself. Even if you fail, there is always a chance to make progress.”
On social media, students share similar experiences that have become popular, triggering extensive conversations about parenting roles during exam seasons. In Karnataka, his parents celebrated a boy who only got 32% and failed six subjects in the Level 10 Board exam, and their parents cut a cake to encourage him. In another case, a CBSE Level 12 student shared a screenshot of his father’s cool sentence reacting to “chillness”, and he scored 84%. The position gained significant appeal on Reddit.
These stories are now widely discussed online, reflecting the growing recognition that exams are not the only measure of children’s potential, and that compassion and support are equally important in shaping their future.
