Koyel Ghosh is a happy as well as a sad mother these days. Happy that her son Sagnik, a humanities student, scored 93.8% in Class 12; and sad that the boy, her only child, would soon be leaving home — for Christ University in Bengaluru — to pursue higher studies. The family believes that the reputed institution will equip the teenager better for a career in psychology.
“Out there, we expect better guidance, assistance and career counselling compared to what he would have got in Kolkata. Bengaluru has firms that help students go to universities abroad. Here, not only are the number of good colleges is limited, even seats for new non-traditional subjects such as earth sciences, photography, wildlife, etc. are not available at the graduation level,” said Ms. Ghosh, a resident of Salt Lake City.
Then, speaking on behalf of her son, she added: “Out here, one sees a laidback attitude and a politicised atmosphere. Not only that, there are very few colleges offering a course in psychology for male students. Also, there is a lack of confidence regarding [West Bengal’s] economic future. On the whole, the conditions here are not very inspiring.”
