Within the span of a single week, two university students attempted to take their own lives-an alarming and deeply troubling development that demands serious reflection. While such tragedies are often the result of multiple, interrelated factors, they point to systemic shortcomings that extend beyond individual circumstances.

Public discourse has highlighted a range of possible underlying pressures, including escalating tuition fees, financial strain on families, intense academic stress, strained teacher-student relationships, poor academic performance, and rigid attendance policies. Each of these factors can place an immense psychological burden on young people, particularly in highly competitive and unforgiving academic environments. However, beyond these commonly cited causes lies a more fundamental and often overlooked issue: the systematic exclusion of youth from educational planning and academic decision-making processes. When students are treated merely as recipients of education rather than active stakeholders, their voices, concerns, and lived realities remain unheard. This disconnect can foster feelings of alienation, powerlessness, and disengagement-conditions that significantly heighten emotional vulnerability.

Education systems that prioritise compliance over consultation risk overlooking the emotional and psychological needs of learners. Young people need spaces where they are listened to, respected, and meaningfully involved in shaping their academic experiences. Inclusion in curriculum design, assessment practices, institutional policies, and support mechanisms not only enhances relevance and motivation but also affirms students’ sense of belonging and self-worth.

These recent incidents should compel universities, regulators, and policymakers to look beyond surface-level explanations and address deeper structural gaps within higher education. Safeguarding student well-being requires more than reactive measures; it demands a proactive shift toward student-centred, participatory, and empathetic........

© Daily Times