Examination and its Backlash on Student's Health

Gabadeen Labeebah titilope

"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work learning from failure .” ~ General Colin Powell

According to the English Dictionary, an examination is a formal test of a person's knowledge or proficiency in a subject or skill. It is a detailed inspection or study.

The examination is quite sacrosanct in this part of the world we are and much emphasis is being laid on it.

Right from creche even up to a professorship degree, series of examination are being written to move higher or further, Also, in some organization, for one to get promoted he ought to have written and passed certain examinations on it.

However, this test of a person's knowledge (Examination) suffers from a backlash, it affects and takes a toll on the student's body, mental health and general well being.

In an interview with one of the Directors, Dr Nasir Ariyibi of Lagos State University, LASU health centre which was conducted on Tuesday, March 9, 2021, Dr Nasir shared his observation of how examination affects the health University's students.

He said, "During the Exam period, student complain mostly of Malaria, Fever and Body pain. The reason is that during the exam period, due to anxiety, stress that student put themselves through, their blood level becomes low and it will not be able to fight those diseases unlike before."

Dr Nasir pinpointed some of the reason which makes the students prone to illness during examination :
Lack of healthy food during the Exam period, such things as junks like soft drinks and, biscuits make students weak.

Also, lack of enough sleep contributes to this.

During the examination, a lot of students deprive themselves of good sleep to read their books, this in turn makes them weak and leads to student passing out while writing their examination; thus making them finish up their examination in the health centre while receiving treatment.

He further said, "There's an increase in the number of students who visit the health centre during the examination period and we estimated about 574 patients which include both staff and students.

A lot of students dread failure and because of this, they prepare rigorously for their examination which in turn takes a toll on their health.

Students should try to pay attention to their health during the examination period.