Students' Stress

<Article Info>

-Title: State Board Oblivious to Stress in Students

-Author: Manasi Saraf Joshi
-Source: Internet (Link: http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_state-board-oblivious-to-stress-in-students_1647453)

-Date: Feb.08.2012

As Chaitanya Kher, a SSC student of Abhinava Vidyalaya was getting ready to attend the farewell function in his school, he was under stress due to Higher Order Thinking Syllabus (HOTS) pattern in the SSC examination.

Hence, he is spending sleepless nights and cannot concentrate. This has made him even more worried about his future. “I guess I need some help so that I can concentrate on my studies and score good marks. But I don’t know where to get help from,’’ he said.

Like Chaitanya, there are many students who are under stress even before the examination has begun. But Maharashtra State Board of Higher Secondary and Secondary Education seems to be oblivious to the fact. The state board, which for last two years, started its helplines in the first week of February, has decided that this year, its helplines will become operational only a few days before the examination.

The SSC examination begins from March 1. At present, only a private helpline managed by Supermind Prakshan is functioning. The helpline is getting a flood of calls from many students. “On an average, we get seven to eight calls from the students regarding stress and the change in examination pattern,’’ said director Vaishali Keskar.

She said, “We launched the helpline last year. We received calls from students regarding lack of concentration, depression and frustration. But this year, we are getting calls regarding changes in the examination pattern and especially, on Higher Order Thinking Syllabus (HOTS), essays, grammar and difficult sections in science and mathematics.’’

But state board secretary Shahji Dekhane said, “The helplines for board students are operated by divisional boards. They will be operational a couple of days before the examination. We will not interfere in the matter."

Two years ago, the then state board chairperson Vijaysheela Sardesai had taken the initiative to start the helpline as the state was rocked by suicides of many students.

<Summary>

Many Students are suffering from extreme stress before and during the exam in SSC. This stress even led to the suicides of numerous students. However, Maharashtra State Board of Higher Secondary and Secondary Education is oblivious to this fact and is not doing anything specifically helpful for the students who are stressed, but the helplines. Those helplines in fact is only available only a couple of days before the examination, and thus is not very useful.

<Big Meaning>

This shows the community's social problem as the board that is supposed to be in charge of the students is not helping the students to not get stress from examinations. In addition, this does not only refer to the SSC exam but the general exams in our world. Most of the students gain immeasurable stress from the exams but the schools are not actually doing anything about it as they want to "leave" it to students. More effective counseling than helplines is needed in all the schools, and the education should be promoted in a way that students enjoy, instead of something that they are scared of and want to keep distance from. However, it is indubitable that it has already become a general fact in the world that the exam gives students a lot of stress and that is one of the causes of suicides.   

<Personal Meaning>

This article and its message impact me personally because I also agree with this article as my stress increases significantly before the exam. I have a pressure to do well and do the best I can and thus I understand those students getting stress from SSC exam. I chose this article because I knew that stress that comes from being a student and acting out students' duties can be very significant to you. However, my stress has never been that intense as an issue and topic discussed in this article. Still, I want to improve myself even more by trying to be more positive and just enjoy a student's life.