A 16-year-old girl in Ahmedabad, aspiring to become a psychologist, faced pressure from her father to choose commerce for perceived profitability. She called the 181 Abhayam women's helpline to safeguard her ambition against conventional notions.
Background of the Case
Keya Patel (name changed), a resident of eastern Ahmedabad and a student at a prominent English school, scored 68% in Class 10 and wished to opt for arts in the general stream. Her father, associated with the diamond industry, disagreed, believing arts had no career scope and pushed her toward commerce to pursue CA or an MBA.
Counselling and Resolution
An Abhayam counsellor revealed that the stalemate became so serious that the girl moved to her maternal aunt's home. Having lost her mother at a young age, her father remarried a year later, but the relationship soured after the stepmother conceived, leaving the girl feeling neglected. The counsellor spoke with the father, informing him about new opportunities in the arts and urging him to support his daughter's passion instead of pushing for financial gain. The father agreed, and the girl returned home.
Rising Popularity of Arts and Humanities
School authorities note that arts (state board) and humanities (CBSE and ICSE) have gained traction over the past decade, especially in English-medium schools. Often, students drive the demand, and parents eventually concede.
Parental Perspectives
Avani Tomar, a Maninagar resident and mother of a Class 11 student, initially wanted her daughter to take science but relented when she insisted on humanities to become a retail psychologist.
School Responses
Archit Bhatt, a trustee of Tripada Group of Schools, said humanities classes have expanded due to increased demand, receiving about 150 forms annually against a class strength of 60-70. In areas like Ghatlodia and Maninagar, 10 schools now offer arts, with many students scoring 75-80% in Class 10.
Post-Covid Trends
Industry experts report that at least 30 new divisions (each with 40-50 students) have been added in Gujarati and English-medium schools in Ahmedabad post-Covid. Nirav Thakkar, principal of AG High School, attributes the demand to CBSE and ICSE boards where humanities is robust, and to the emergence of psychology as a discipline after the pandemic. Many competitive exam aspirants now opt for humanities.
Popular Subjects
Psychology and English top the list, followed by economics and sociology. Mount Carmel High School added a humanities division two years ago due to rising demand.
Shifting Decision-Making
Manan Choksi, a trustee of Udgam Group of Schools, notes that a decade ago, parents solely decided careers. Now, decisions are made by consensus, with children's choices gaining primacy.
