Examination blues: Students approach experts to beat stress

INDORE: With just a month remaining for CBSE class X and XII board exams, students are burning midnight oil. So is stress level, that is on the rise. In a bid to help students reduce stress schools are engaging professional counsellors. City-based counsellors are also being flooded by queries even as CBSE has opened up 'tele-counselling' for class X and XII students.
Class X student at the Marthoma HS School Bhavesh Goyal said friends among his group do discuss on managing studies. He said, "Till now, we have not called up CBSE toll-free number, we were informed about it by teachers. We have been given tips to reduce stress and plan our studies at school. I have stopped using Facebook and am concentrating on revising lesson by writing."
Principal of Advanced Academy School Manoj Bajpai said most schools have professional counsellors and teachers also help students. CBSE provides guidelines on helping de-stress students. Bajpai said it is seen toppers have a greater level of stress as they carry the burden of expectation to keep their top rank intact. Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar recently organised a counselling session for students to take up practical lessons. PRO Pramod Dalmiya said it is seen students of Commerce stream faced problem while taking up viva test (external exam). "Since, Science students have practical exams in school as well, they are well prepared. So, we recently conducted a session for Commerce students. Usually, teachers hold one on one talk with students and so far we have not come across any case of student facing exam stress," added Dalmiya.
Principal of Bhavans' Prominent School, Subrata Mukherjee said that they had conducted a health camp for students, focusing on class XII students. At the camp, students were given tips on diet and managing their sleep time well. "We are taking sessions in general assembly on managing time table managing at home, on dividing the syllabus equally and giving equal emphasis on all subjects. We have asked students to avoid waking up late night and also do some Yoga exercises," Mukerjee said.
Career counsellor Sachin Bhatnagar is getting nearly 150 students and are approaching his centre these days. He said they are getting queries from students going to various coaching classes as well and queries range from managing syllabus to deal with immense stress as well. Class XII student Tanvi Khatri of Vidya Sagar School apprised that their teachers are talking to them about problems regarding both studies and mental pressure as well.