Midnight Projects and Sleepless Kids: Pune Father’s Video Renews Concern Over Academic Pressure
Midnight Projects and Sleepless Kids: Pune Father's Video Renews Concern Over Academic Pressure
Sleepless nights and mounting schoolwork have once again sparked debate after a Pune-based father shared a video of his son struggling to complete a school project well past midnight. The father, Niteen S Dharmawat, an investor and co-founder of Aurum Capital, revealed that his eighth-grade son, despite finishing his regular homework, was forced to burn the midnight oil to complete a project—driven by fear of punishment rather than any real motivation to learn.
Sharing a short video clip of the scene on X (formerly Twitter), Dharmawat wrote, “As a parent, I’m feeling so helpless with this rotten system. Whatever I was against, I have to face it for my kid now.” The post quickly gained traction, striking a chord with many parents who found the situation deeply relatable and frustrating.
Dozens of users flooded the comments section with similar stories. One parent recalled, “My husband and I just did her project at 12 at night because she remembered them on the last day. Like months of work on a scrapbook in one night.” Another echoed this sentiment, saying their child had once remembered a long-term assignment just hours before the deadline, leading to a night-long scramble to get it done.
A powerful comment captured the collective frustration: “This is the same story all over India. These projects are useless and serve no purpose in real life. Such a stupid and outdated education system. No one is ready to reform it. They’re wasting the time, energy, and potential of students and parents alike. Such a waste of precious human life.”
Some parents and educators pointed fingers at schools and teachers, suggesting that these assignments are more about institutional optics than meaningful learning. “Teachers get it done for their own approval and performance rating,” one comment stated bluntly.
The pressure, many argue, is not just academic but systemic. “Nowadays, children aren’t even treated as kids. From the moment they’re born, they’re expected to become future technocrats, entrepreneurs, or professionals. The pressure from both schools and parents is intense,” said another user.
Still, there were voices offering a more balanced perspective. One comment acknowledged the value of project-based learning when done right: “Project work is a powerful learning method. It’s interdisciplinary and teaches research, planning, creativity, and presentation. But the way it’s being used now—as part of a toxic competitive culture—kills curiosity and talent.”
Another user reminded educators and parents of a vital truth: “Homework should never rob children of their sleep and joy. Learning should inspire curiosity—not leave them drained and anxious.”
But perhaps the most moving reflection came from someone who summed up the emotional tone of the conversation: “In this education drama, we forgot that children must first live their childhood before being judged by assignments and marks.”
