CBSE introduces tele-helpline number for stressed students facing board exam
Thursday, 11 January 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has launched a tele-helpline number- 1800118004- for psychological counselling to help students overcome stress and anxiety during board examinations. Stating this, a CBSE counsellor and neuropsychologist Dr Sona Kaushal Gupta said that students remaining stressed before the board exams negatively impact their preparation and results. “Not just the students but their parents also become stressed and this further adds to the students’ stress. Taking note of this, CBSE has introduced the helpline number to facilitate psychological counselling for the students before the examination,” she said.
She further informed that psychological counselling through telecalling has started in the State on January 1. “Since then, I have received numerous calls from both students and parents who told me about their stress and anxiety related to the upcoming examination. Many students have contacted the tele helpline number to share their concerns about stress. They say they lack confidence and despite meticulous preparations being made, a fear overwhelms them that they would forget everything they have learnt when they would sit in the exam hall to write. To aggravate things for them, their parents, gripped by stress, keep nagging at their children and complaining that they have not studied as much as they should have to face exams,” said the CBSE counsellor.
She further said that the exam nightmares do not end with the exams. “They remain equally or even more tense about the results of the exams. Fear will never cease haunting them unless they decide to train their full focus on studies instead of worrying about what will happen. I advise them to change their sleep schedules as this helps reduce stress as per my professional experiences. I tell them about the importance of time management too. Besides, the role of their parents is immensely important during this stressful time. They must be supportive instead of nagging and complaining. Their support may do wonders for their children, making them truly exam-ready. This is what they should do –to help them face the challenge head-on instead of buckling under pressure. This is particularly true for those children studying in Class XI as they are about to choose a career. This is a critical time when they need parental support the most,” she said and added that the introduction of the tele helpline number by CBSE might go a long way in mitigating stress and helping the students face board exams with cool composure.
