HSC helplines flooded with calls as exams near

With SSC and HSC examinations round the corner, anxiety was running high among students and parents, evident from the 700 calls that the state board's helpline numbers have recorded since February 13. Even independent counsellors were flooded with queries. 

"The number of calls has gone up sharply in the past two days," said Chandrakant Munde, one of the four counsellors who manage the two helpline numbers of the board. The acute awareness on managing stress must be fairly evident from the fact that psychiatrist Dr Harish Shetty has conducted, in the past few weeks, about 10 workshops in stress management, interacting with 1000 board students at a time. 

The helplines receive a wide range of queries - right from whether to use an ink pen or ball point pen, to how to write answers to a particular question. The only queries that befuddle the counsellors are those pertaining to the syllabus, such as whether students can leave out particular portions while preparing for the exams. "We cannot answer such questions and encourage them to ask their teachers instead," said Munde. 

A large number of calls also come from anxious parents who feel their children are not well prepared. "We advise them to encourage the child to attempt the questions with more weightage," said Munde. 

Similar apprehensions were expressed to independent counsellors approved by the state board. "The students appearing for HSC are more worried about getting into a college and balancing board exams with other entrance tests. I have received calls from students who are worried that they may not score as much as their parents and teachers expect," said Dr Shetty. 

He even advised students to refrain from speaking to curious relatives as that would only add to their anxiety and nervousness. "Students as well as their parents, must eat and sleep well. Students should also avoid studying late into the night as they will find it difficult to stay awake for the exam," he said. 

The HSC exams begin on February 20 and the SSC exams on March 1.