March 3, 2009 12:11:31 am
With the Gujarat state board exams commencing on March 17,stress and anxiety is one factor that both students and parents will be worried about.
To tackle this,the Gujarat Secondary Education Board (GSEB) has come up with a toll free helpline to assist students overcome examination jitters.
The helpline number is 1800 233 5500. It will be functional from March 2 from 8 am to 8 pm. Students can also direct their exam related queries on this number.
P B Gadhvi,District Education Officer (DEO),Ahmedabad city,told Newsline: Such helplines have doctors,psychiatrists and academic experts to advise the students. The principals and teachers of schools also have a crucial role to play in this.
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The Ahmedabad District Education Office has been providing counselling to students for the last two years. This year also it would set up a helpline with assistance from doctors of the Kanoria Hospital.
Reiterating the need for both pre and post exam counselling,Mrs Amita Saxena,a psychologist and a visiting lecturer,said: The sheer burden of expectations on students during exams makes counselling a necessity. These centres should be ideally put into place much before the exams,as this would help in reducing the number of suicides to a great extent.
She added that post-exam counselling,especially at the time of results,is crucial provided the students approach the right person for guidance.
A similar initiative has been taken up by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). In view of the CBSE exams commencing on March 2,the CBSE has come up with innovative measures like a short film on how to deal with stress during exams. The film is titled Smile your way through exams. A detailed state-wise list of counsellors has been put up on the CBSEs official website cbse.nic.in
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