CBSE's student-helpline gets 5,600 calls in 21 days
A tele-helpline launched by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on February 1 to help Class 10-12 students better deal with the pressure of Board exams, has received 5,600 calls in 21 days. The maximum calls were made from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, reported Hindustan Times. Most students sought help for memory loss, poor concentration and inability to cope. Here's more.
More calls from Class 10 students
Class 10 students, who'd be writing Board exams for the first time, have been calling more than their seniors. Board exam for Class 10 had been optional since 2010-11. However, CBSE has made it mandatory again from this year. The tension among young examinees hence is palpable. Interestingly, the helpline has been getting calls from non-CBSE students too struggling with pre-exam anxiety.
Helpline to take queries from February 1 till April 13
The helpline is also for parents. It will run from February 1 till April 13 between 8am and 10pm. Those who don't want to use the helpline can put up queries on CBSE's website. Though operators handle general queries, those related to anxiety/stress are forwarded to counsellors/principals. In a first, CBSE has also deployed four special educators specifically for differently-abled students and their parents.
An accessible, impersonal platform for students to share problems
The helpline, being impersonal, allows students to open up more comfortably. "Our counsellors do their best to look for a solution. They try to build a rapport with the students so that they feel comfortable," Rama Sharma, a CBSE spokesperson told HT. Students are opening up. Their complaints are varied and many, ranging from parental pressure to inability to revise and choosing a career.
