CBSE helps students counter exam stress

New Delhi: A toll-free helpline for students, a newly introduced interactive voice response (IVR) system, and a specialised audiovisual presentation on issues affecting the youths — this is how the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) helped students counter the board exam stress this year.

For the first time, a comprehensive audiovisual presentation titled “Knowing Children Better” was prepared and uploaded on the CBSE’s website and other social media platforms. The presentations were on issues like tackling exam anxiety, internet addiction, substance abuse, and depression.

CBSE public relations officer Rama Sharma said that the presentations received 75,000 hits on YouTube and 92,000 views on Twitter with the presentation on tackling exam anxiety getting the maximum number of views.

The board had also prepared a course compendium for students. This was an earnest effort to facilitate students while scouting for right course choices after Class 12, the board said.

The compendium featured traditional courses such as engineering, chartered accountancy, and medicine while also giving details and eligibility criteria for unconventional subjects like artificial intelligence, robotics, and how to become a detective among others.

Ms Rama Sharma said that as many as 12,000 calls were received on the IVR service, a new feature introduced this year.

Through the IVR system, students, parents, or stakeholders were able to get hold of pre-recorded useful information on tackling the board exams, including tips for better preparation, time and stress management, and frequently asked questions along with live tele-counselling services.

Surprisingly, with the introduction of the IVR system, the calls received on the toll-free helpline number during the first phase of counselling — between February 1 and April 4 — saw a considerable decline. The second phase is expected to begin after the board results are declared.

The board had roped in a total of 87 counsellors. Of these, 65 were from India, including two special educators, and 22 from foreign schools.